Evaluation of tumor malignancy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using different characteristic factors.
BACKGROUND
We have been investigating various molecules correlated with the malignancy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and, in the present study, we examined the correlation of four of them (KAI1, FAK, EphA2, Ki-67 labeling index) with the prognosis of affected patients. Furthermore, the use of biopsy samples was studied to evaluate whether the grade of tumor malignancy can be determined before treatment in a clinical setting.


METHODS
Tissue specimens that had been surgically removed from 91 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer and 247 biopsy samples were examined. The malignancy index (MI) was defined in terms of the KAI1, FAK and EphA2 scores and the Ki-67 labeling index, and the reliability and utility of the correlation between MI and prognosis was evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean 5-year survival rate of patients with MI=0 was 100%, while that of patients with MI=1, 2 and 3 was 70%, 48% and 10%, respectively. Patients with MI=4 all died, with the exception of one who has been observed for 3 years. The rate of concordance between the biopsy samples and surgical specimens was 79.4% for KAI1, 88.2% for FAK and 73.5% for EphA2, and the rates of concordance for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 biopsy samples were 66.7%, 64.1%, 74.5%, 90.7%, 91.7%, 83.3%, 100% and 100%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be feasible to evaluate the malignancy of tumor cells and to predict patient outcome by using multiple marker molecules. It is anticipated that such data will accelerate the development of "tailor-made" therapy.
Miyazaki
Tatsuya
T
Department of General Surgical Science (Surgery I) and the 21st Century COE Program, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan. tatsuyam@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
Kimura
Hitoshi
H
Inose
Takanori
T
Faried
Ahmad
A
Sohda
Makoto
M
Nakajima
Masanobu
M
Fukai
Yasuyuki
Y
Masuda
Norihiro
N
Manda
Ryokuhei
R
Fukuchi
Minoru
M
Tsukada
Katsuhiko
K
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D051861:Kangai-1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D036104:Receptor, EphA2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
C497688:CD82 protein, human; D051861:Kangai-1 Protein; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D036104:Receptor, EphA2; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human