Prognostic relevance of Centromere protein H expression in esophageal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Many kinetochore proteins have been shown to be associated with human cancers. The aim of the present study was to clarify the expression of Centromere protein H (CENP-H), one of the fundamental components of the human active kinetochore, in esophageal carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological features.


METHODS
We examined the expression of CENP-H in immortalized esophageal epithelial cells as well as in esophageal carcinoma cells, and in 12 cases of esophageal carcinoma tissues and the paired normal esophageal tissues by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. In addition, we analyzed CENP-H protein expression in 177 clinicopathologically characterized esophageal carcinoma cases by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were applied to test for prognostic and diagnostic associations.


RESULTS
The level of CENP-H mRNA and protein were higher in the immortalized cells, cancer cell lines and most cancer tissues than in normal control tissues. Immunohistochemistry showed that CENP-H was expressed in 127 of 171 ESCC cases (74.3%) and in 3 of 6 esophageal adenocarcinoma cases (50%). Statistical analysis of ESCC cases showed that there was a significant difference of CENP-H expression in patients categorized according to gender (P = 0.013), stage (P = 0.023) and T classification (P = 0.019). Patients with lower CENP-H expression had longer overall survival time than those with higher CENP-H expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that CENP-H expression was an independent prognostic marker for esophageal carcinoma patients. A prognostic value of CENP-H was also found in the subgroup of T3 approximately T4 and N0 tumor classification.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that CENP-H protein is a valuable marker of esophageal carcinoma progression. CENP-H might be used as a valuable prognostic marker for esophageal carcinoma patients.
Guo
Xian-Zhi
XZ
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China. guoxianzhi1226@hotmail.com
Zhang
Ge
G
Wang
Jun-Ye
JY
Liu
Wan-Li
WL
Wang
Fang
F
Dong
Ju-Qin
JQ
Xu
Li-Hua
LH
Cao
Jing-Yan
JY
Song
Li-Bing
LB
Zeng
Mu-Sheng
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological
C121933:CENPH protein, human; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone