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High Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression Following Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy Is Associated with Minor Histopathologic Response and Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Cancer

Purpose: High expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was shown to inhibit chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced apoptosis. We analyzed the association of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression with histomorphologic response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in esophageal cancer. Experimental Design: Fift...

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Published in:Clinical cancer research 2005-12, Vol.11 (23), p.8341-8347
Main Authors: Xi, Huan, Baldus, Stephan E, Warnecke-Eberz, Ute, Brabender, Jan, Neiss, Susanne, Metzger, Ralf, Ling, Frederike C, Dienes, Hans P, Bollschweiler, Elfriede, Moenig, Stefan, Mueller, Rolf P, Hoelscher, Arnulf H, Schneider, Paul M
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Language:English
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Summary:Purpose: High expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was shown to inhibit chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced apoptosis. We analyzed the association of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression with histomorphologic response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in esophageal cancer. Experimental Design: Fifty-two patients with resectable esophageal cancers (cT2-4, N x , and M 0 ) received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-5-fluorouracil, 36 Gy) followed by transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy. Histomorphologic regression was defined as major response when resected specimens contained less than 10% of residual vital tumor cells. RNA was isolated from endoscopic biopsies (paired tumor and normal tissue) before neoadjuvant treatment and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (Taqman) assays were done to determine COX-2 mRNA expression levels standardized for β-actin. COX-2 protein expression in pretreatment biopsies and post-therapeutic resection specimens was analyzed by immunostaining of tumor cells. Results: Median COX-2 mRNA expression levels were significantly ( P < 0.0001) different between paired tumor (median, 2.2) and normal tissues (median, 0.159). Comparison of pre-therapeutic and posttherapeutic specimens showed a significant difference ( P < 0.006) in COX-2 protein expression. Twelve of 52 tumors showed down-regulation and 3 of 52 showed up-regulation of COX-2 protein expression during neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. High COX-2 protein expression in post-therapeutic resection specimens was significantly associated with minor histopathologic response ( P < 0.04) and poor prognosis (5-year survival probabilities: 26.3 ± 8.2% for minor and 58.6% ± 12.9% for major histopathologic response; P < 0.01). Conclusion: High COX-2 protein expression following neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in resection specimens is significantly associated with minor histopathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy and very poor prognosis.
ISSN:1078-0432
1557-3265
DOI:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-2373