Prediction of the response to chemoradiation and prognosis in oesophageal squamous cancer.
BACKGROUND
The sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation therapy depends on various biological properties. This study investigated the expression of p53, CDC25B and metallothionein (MT), and evaluated their clinical significance in chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
The expression of p53, CDC25B and MT was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using biopsy specimens taken before CRT for 77 patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and correlated with the pathological effects of CRT and survival.


RESULTS
p53-positive tumours and MT-positive tumours had a poor response to CRT, whereas tumours with strong CDC25B expression were associated with a good response. When each patient was scored for the presence of the three biological factors, there was a strong correlation between the sensitivity score and the pathological effect of CRT (P < 0.001), and a (non-significant) difference in the 5-year survival rate between patients with a high score and those with a low score (67 versus 34 per cent respectively; P = 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
The combined evaluation of p53, CDC25B and MT may help to identify patients with advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma who will benefit from preoperative CRT.
Kishi
K
K
Department of Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, E-2, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Doki
Y
Y
Miyata
H
H
Yano
M
M
Yasuda
T
T
Monden
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein; C517008:CDC25B protein, human; D020687:cdc25 Phosphatases; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil