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Prognostic Significance of NBS1 and Snail Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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

Abstract

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a lethal malignancy, but only limited molecular markers can predict its prognosis. Recently, a DNA double-strand break repair protein Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBS1) was reported to induce Snail expression and predict poor prognosis in head and neck cancers. However, the clinicopathologic roles of NBS1 and Snail in ESCC remain unclear.

Methods

From January 1995 to September 1999, tissue samples from 153 patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomies at our institutions were collected and made into tissue core arrays for study. Expression of NBS1 and Snail was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The clinicopathologic data were analyzed, and some additional studies were performed to explore the relationship between NBS1 and Snail.

Results

NBS1 overexpression was observed in 28.1% (43/153) of ESCC, whereas Snail overexpression was observed in 26.1% (40/153) of ESCC. Overexpression of NBS1 correlated inversely with nodal status (P = 0.009) and was associated with better overall survival (P = 0.002). On the other hand, overexpression of Snail correlated positively with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.034) and was associated with worse overall survival (P = 0.036). Meanwhile, NBS1 overexpression correlated inversely with Snail overexpression marginally (P = 0.084). Using the Cox regression analysis, T status (P = 0.006), M status (P = 0.008), and NBS1 overexpression (P = 0.007) were the independent factors of overall survival.

Conclusions

Our results showed that NBS1 overexpression was an independent factor of better survival and Snail overexpression predicted a worse survival in ESCC. Combination of NBS1 plus Snail expression status could be used as a predictor of prognosis in ESCC.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by grants from National Science Council (NSC95-2314-B-303-023) and Tzu Chi Foundation Medicine Mission (TCRD-I9603-03). The authors also thank Professor Kou-Juey Wu and Professor Muh-Hwa Yang in National Yang-Ming University for their expert opinions on initial preparation of this study and Dr. Hao-Wei Wang at Cornell University for his critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Kuang-Tai Kuo MD & Liang-Shun Wang MD

  2. Translational Research Laboratory, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Wen-Liang Chen PhD

  3. Department of Pathology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Teh-Ying Chou MD

  4. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Han-Shui Hsu MD

  5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Kuang-Tai Kuo MD & Teh-Ying Chou MD

  6. Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Han-Shui Hsu MD

  7. Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Wen-Liang Chen PhD

  8. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Liang-Shun Wang MD

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  1. Kuang-Tai Kuo MD
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  2. Teh-Ying Chou MD
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Correspondence to Liang-Shun Wang MD.

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Kuo, KT., Chou, TY., Hsu, HS. et al. Prognostic Significance of NBS1 and Snail Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 19 (Suppl 3), 549–557 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-2043-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-2043-2

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