Correlation between Tumor-associated Proteins and Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Patients with Advanced Squamous-cell Esophageal Cancer

• Published in: Anticancer research 2011-05, Vol.31 (5), p.1769-1775
• Main Authors: FARKAS, R, POZSGAI, E, BELLYEI, Sz, CSEKE, L, SZIGETI, A, VERECZKEI, A, MARTON, S, MANGEL, L, HORVATH, O. P, PAPP, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; Case-Control Studies; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Combined Modality Therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - metabolism; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Esophagus - drug effects; Esophagus - metabolism; Esophagus - radiation effects; Female; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Heat-Shock Proteins, Small - metabolism; Hemeproteins - metabolism; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Staging; Pregnancy Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome; Tumors
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Possible predictive markers of response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NRCT) of esophageal cancer have been identified. Patient biopsies were obtained from both tumor and normal tissue before the NRCT of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Protein solutions were separated and immunoblot analysis was performed with heat shock protein (Hsp)16.2, heme-binding protein 2 (SOUL), BCL2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell-associated leukemia protein 2 (Bcl-2) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) antibodies. Following NRCT, the patients were restaged according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST). Following resections the pathological down-staging was evaluated. Clinical restaging revealed a response rate of 65%. Pathological examination revealed down-staging in 30% and 25% of the cases for the T and N categories respectively. Compared to the normal esophageal mucosa, a decreased expression of Hsp16.2, Hsp90 and SOUL proteins and an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was found in the responding tumors. Hsp16,2, Hsp90 and SOUL expression and Bax/ Bcl-2 ratio correlates to the efficacy of NRCT and predict outcome in patients with locally advanced squamous-cell esophageal cancer.