title: Suppression of the phytohemagglutinin response to lymphocytes is an independent prognosticator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The preoperative immunological condition of patients with malignant tumors should be considered in determining the prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A lymphoblastic transformation test in which lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was performed for 155 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a lower preoperative PHA response (p = 0.028), as well as the depth of the tumor (p = 0.011), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0003), lymphatic permeation (p = 0.002), and the incidence of postoperative complication (p = 0.016) were independent factors associated with a poor prognosis for patients with SCC of the esophagus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A suppressed PHA response is an additional significant prognosticator for SCC of the esophagus.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan. nonta@college.fdcnet.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozoe
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korenaga
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohga
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Futatsugi
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins