Tumor Biology

, Volume 35, Issue 7, pp 7275–7282 | Cite as

Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor, CD31, and α-smooth muscle actin and esophageal cancer recurrence after definitive chemoradiation

  • Yongshun Chen
  • Xiaohong Li
  • Haijun Yang
  • Yubing Xia
  • Leiming Guo
  • Xiaoyuan Wu
  • Chunyu He
  • You Lu
Research Article
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Abstract

There is cumulative evidence that stromal reaction in cancer has an important diagnostic and prognostic significance. The aims of this study were to analyze the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), CD31, and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) in esophageal cancer patients and to establish their significance as indicators of disease recurrence after definitive chemoradiation (CRT). Protein expressions of FGF-2, CD31, and SMA were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in 70 patients, 20 with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 50 with locally recurrent ESCC after definitive CRT. Twenty matched normal esophageal squamous epithelium were also studied as controls. Esophageal cancer tissues showed positive expression of FGF-2, CD31, and SMA; in contrast, FGF-2 expression was not detected and only little staining for CD31 and SMA was noted in normal epithelium. Protein levels of FGF-2, CD31, and SMA were significantly elevated in recurrent ESCC. Among the patients with locally recurrent disease, expression of FGF-2 and SMA was notably high in whom the tumor recurred locally within 24 months after definitive CRT. The 2- and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate was 15.4 % and 0 in patients with high FGF-2 expression, compared with 45.8 and 33.3 % in those who expressed low FGF-2, respectively (P = 0.005). Of patients who expressed high SMA, the 2- and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate was 21.7 and 8.7 %, respectively, compared to those with low SMA expression which was 37.0 and 22.2 %, respectively (P = 0.016). Overexpression of FGF-2 and SMA is associated with local recurrence and reduced recurrence-free survival after definitive CRT for ESCC. The data also suggest that targeting stromal cells may be an attractive approach for esophageal cancer therapy strategies.

Keywords

Basic fibroblast growth factor CD31 α-smooth muscle actin Chemoradiation Esophageal cancer Recurrence 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: U1204816) and Henan Provincial Science and Technology Bureau.

Conflicts of interest

None

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Copyright information

© International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM) 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yongshun Chen
    • 1
    • 2
  • Xiaohong Li
    • 3
  • Haijun Yang
    • 4
  • Yubing Xia
    • 5
  • Leiming Guo
    • 2
  • Xiaoyuan Wu
    • 2
  • Chunyu He
    • 2
  • You Lu
    • 1
  1. 1.Division of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital, Cancer Center, West China School of Clinical MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduChina
  2. 2.Department of Radiation OncologyZhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
  3. 3.Department of PathologyZhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Henan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouChina
  4. 4.Department of PathologyAnyang Cancer HospitalAnyangChina
  5. 5.Department of Medical OncologyKaifeng Cancer HospitalKaifengChina

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