Reduced expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptors is an unfavorable prognostic factor in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibits epithelial cell proliferation. Inactivation of the TGF-beta signaling pathway is thought to play a role in tumorigenesis. Our purpose was to clarify the correlation between TGF-beta receptors or TGF-beta 1 expression and the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Immunohistochemical staining for TGF-beta type I receptor (TGF-beta R-I), TGF-beta R-II and TGF-beta 1 was performed on surgical specimens obtained from 80 patients with esophageal SCC. Preoperative plasma TGF-beta1 levels were measured and correlated with pathologic features and clinical outcomes. Expression of TGF-beta R-I and TGF-beta R-II was reduced in 43 (53.8%) and 23 (28.8%) specimens, respectively. TGF-beta 1 was overexpressed in 29 (36.3%). Reduced expression of TGF-beta R-I and TGF-beta R-II showed a significant association with depth of invasion (p = 0.0015 and p = 0.0012), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0309 and p = 0.0059) and pathologic stage (p = 0.0103 and p = 0.0401). Overexpression of TGF-beta 1 had a significant association with depth of invasion only (p = 0.0335). Reduced expression of TGF-beta R-I and TGF-beta R-II was correlated with cancer-specific survival (p = 0.0324 and p = 0.0243). The mean preoperative plasma TGF-beta 1 level was 10.5 +/- 0.8 ng/ml in patients with esophageal carcinoma and was significantly higher compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01). We demonstrate that reduced expression of TGF-beta receptors in esophageal SCC appears to be correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, pathologic stage and poor prognosis. TGF-beta receptor expression may play a key role in the progression of this cancer.
Fukai
Yasuyuki
Y
Department of Surgery I, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. yfukai@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Fukuchi
Minoru
M
Masuda
Norihiro
N
Osawa
Hidenobu
H
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
Nakajima
Takashi
T
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1