title: High MUC2 immunohistochemical expression is a predictor of poor response to preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT) in rectal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to establish if mucoid differentiation is associated with responsiveness to preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT) in rectal adenocarcinomas. Thirty-two patients with rectal adenocarcinomas were preoperatively treated with 44 to 46 Gy in 22 to 23 fractions and with 5-fluorouracil (200 to 225 mg/m) before surgery. Mucoid differentiation was searched for both in pre-RCT biopsies with anti-MUC2 antiserum and in postoperative specimens. To evaluate the responsiveness to preoperative RCT, a regression grading was used (grades 0 to 4). Statistical analysis showed a significant negative correlation between immunohistochemical expression of MUC2 in pre-RCT biopsies and regression grade in postoperative specimens (r=-0.529; P=0.002). A significant cutoff value of 60% of MUC2 positive neoplastic cells in pre-RCT biopsies was observed (P=0.018): 13 cases with more than 60% exhibited a poor response to RCT (grade 0 in 5/13, grade 1 in 4/13, grade 2 in 4/13), whereas 19 cases with less than 60% showed a better response to RCT (grade 1 in 6/19, grade 2 in 9/19, grade 3 in 3/19, grade 4 in 1/19).
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, University of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosini-Spaltro
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miglio
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piemontese
authors.forename: Ombretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Giovanni P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Frezza
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D055262:Mucin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D055262:Mucin-2