title: Evaluation of tumor malignancy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using different characteristic factors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inose
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faried
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohda
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Ryokuhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C497688:CD82 protein, human; D051861:Kangai-1 Protein; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D036104:Receptor, EphA2; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human