Reduced axin protein expression is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
Our study investigates the significance of the expression of Wnt pathway proteins including beta-catenin, Axin, beta-transducin-repeat-containing protein (beta-TrCP), and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 128 resected ESCC tumors to detect the expression of beta-catenin, Axin, beta-TrCP, and APC. Correlation between immunoexpression, clinicopathological parameters, and patient survival was analyzed.


RESULTS
Increased beta-catenin expression was noted in 22 (18.2%) of 121 tumor specimens. Reduced expression of Axin, beta-TrCP, and APC was observed in 57 (46.0%) of 124, 29 (24.4%) of 119, and 54 (48.2%) of 119 specimens, respectively. No correlation was found among these protein expressions. Axin protein expression was inversely correlated with tumor invasion depth (P = 0.033). Reduced Axin protein expression, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis were significant negative predictors for overall survival and disease-free survival on univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, reduced Axin expression remained a significant prognostic factor for patients with ESCC (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced Axin expression was observed in 46% of ESCC tumor specimens and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. Further study is mandatory to elucidate the underlying mechanism responsible for loss of Axin expression and the role of Axin in ESCC tumorigenesis.
Li
Anna Fen-Yau
AF
Department of Pathology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Po-Kuei
PK
Tzao
Ching
C
Wang
Yi-Ching
YC
Hung
I-Chun
IC
Huang
Min-Hsiung
MH
Hsu
Han-Shui
HS
D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060466:Axin Protein; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism; D044844:beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D060466:Axin Protein; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D044844:beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins