Prognostic significance of caspase-3 expression in primary resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The present study retrospectively examines the expression of caspase-3 in primary resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the correlation between the outcome of patients and the expression of proteins.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were used to analyse the expression of caspase-3 in 40 archival specimens of patients with primary resected ESCC.


RESULTS
According to our cut-off point of the staining for caspase-3, 24 (60%) cases were positive and 16 (40%) negative. Caspase-3 expression correlated with a significant favorable prognosis in primary resected ESCC (P=0.02). A multivariate analysis of clinical and biological factors indicated that stage, tumor differentiation, and caspase-3 expression were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Caspase-3 expression might be a good and new prognostic indicator for primary resected ESCC.
Hsia
Jiun-Yi
JY
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160 Sec. 3 Taichung-Kang Road, Taichung, Taiwan. hjy@vghtc.vghtc.gov.tw
Chen
Chih-Yi
CY
Chen
Jung-Ta
JT
Hsu
Chung-Ping
CP
Shai
Sen-Ei
SE
Yang
Shyh-Sheng
SS
Chuang
Cheng-Yen
CY
Wang
Pei-Yen
PY
Miaw
Jen
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases