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Correlation Between Connexin 26 Expression and Poor Prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Translational Research and Biomarkers
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Failure of gap junction formation affects the development of various types of cancer. We aimed to clarify the clinicopathologic outcome and prognostic significance of connexin (Cx) 26 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

Immunohistochemical staining for Cx26 was performed on surgical specimens obtained from 123 patients with ESCC.

Results

There was no positive staining for Cx26-specific expression in normal esophageal squamous cells. Primary ESCC with Cx26-positive expression was detected in the cytoplasm of cancer cell nests in 60 cases. Cx26 expression was correlated with N (lymph node metastasis, P = 0.014) and the number of metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.047). The 5-year survival rates of ESCC patients with Cx26-positive expression were significantly lower than those with Cx26-negative expression (positive, 39.7%; negative, 65.7%; P = 0.007). By multivariate analysis, tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) clinical classification (T, P < 0.001; N, P = 0.002; M, P = 0.046) and Cx26 (P = 0.024) were independent prognosis predictors of ESCC.

Conclusions

These results suggest that abnormal expression of Cx26 participates in the progress of ESCC.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to thank Dr. Keisuke Ieta, Dr. Ryokuhei Manda, Dr. Hitoshi Ojima, and Dr. Katsuhiko Tsukada for their valuable cooperation, and Mr. Takaichi Aoyagi for excellent technical assistance, and Ms. Sachiko Shigoka, Ms. Akie Takei, Ms. Tomoko Yano, Ms. Hideko Emura, Ms. Midori Ohno, Ms. Tomomi Yoshida, Ms. Tomoko Takahashi, and Ms. Yukie Saito for their excellent secretarial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgical Science (Surgery I), Gunma University, Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan

    Takanori Inose MD, Hiroyuki Kato MD, PhD, Hitoshi Kimura MD, PhD, Ahmad Faried MD, PhD, Naritaka Tanaka MD, Makoto Sakai MD, Akihiko Sano MD, Makoto Sohda MD, PhD, Masanobu Nakajima MD, PhD, Yasuyuki Fukai MD, PhD, Tatsuya Miyazaki MD, PhD, Norihiro Masuda MD, PhD, Minoru Fukuchi MD, PhD & Hiroyuki Kuwano MD, PhD

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  1. Takanori Inose MD
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  2. Hiroyuki Kato MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Takanori Inose MD.

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Inose, T., Kato, H., Kimura, H. et al. Correlation Between Connexin 26 Expression and Poor Prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 16, 1704–1710 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0443-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0443-3

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