title: C-myc gene amplification in different stages of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic value in relation to treatment modality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proto-oncogene c-myc is known to be involved in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and cell differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amplification of c-myc was determined by means of differential PCR in 77 surgically treated stage I or II oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) as well as in 43 locally advanced SCC (cT3-4 cN0-1 cM0) treated by radiochemotherapy and facultatively by surgery. The findings were correlated to overall survival and to response to radiochemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-myc gene amplification was present in 8 out of 77 surgically treated SCC (10.4%) and in 13 out of 43 multimodally treated SCC (30.2%). Among the surgically treated tumours, the presence of c-myc amplification was correlated with high proliferative activity (p = 0.0399) but not with overall survival. Among the multimodally treated SCC, c-myc amplification tended to be correlated with response to chemotherapy and response to radiochemotherapy (not significant) whereas no impact on overall survival was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amplification of c-myc is found more frequently in advanced stages of oesophageal SCC than in early stages. C-myc amplification, however, does not influence the overall survival of oesophageal SCC patients treated either by surgery alone or by multimodal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Heinrich Heine Universität, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitzer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Jawed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arjumand
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klump
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heep
authors.forename: Helmut Erich
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gabbert
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarbia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil