Suppression of the phytohemagglutinin response to lymphocytes is an independent prognosticator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
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.
Nozoe
Tadahiro
T
Department of General Surgery, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan. nonta@college.fdcnet.ac.jp
Korenaga
Daisuke
D
Ohga
Takefumi
T
Futatsugi
Motonori
M
Maehara
Yoshihiko
Y
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins