title: ERCC1 (excision repair cross-complementation group 1) expression as a predictor for response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for FIGO stage 2B uterine cervix cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer has some benefits for patients responding to chemotherapy. However, no validated clinical or biologic predictor of response to this chemotherapy has been identified to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employ immunohistochemical analysis to determine the expression patterns of the excision repair cross-complementation group1 (ERCC1) protein in pre-treatment cervical biopsy tissue. In total, 43 stage IIB patients had been enrolled in a previous etoposide and cisplatin neoadjuvant phase II clinical trial, allowing comparison of the effects of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy on response in relation to ERCC1 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 43 patients studied, 34 (79.1%) were positive and 9 (20.9%) were negative for ERCC1. Response to chemotherapy (according to RECIST criteria) was observed in all patients with negative ERCC1 expression. In logistic regression analysis, ERCC1 negativity continued to be an independent predictor for responsiveness to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.021). Among the pretreatment factors, low ERCC1 expression was a significant prognostic factor of disease-free survival in multivariate analysis (p=0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ERCC1 expression patterns in pretreatment specimens may thus facilitate the prediction of responses to cisplatin-based NAC. We propose that patients expressing low levels of ERCC1 derive the most benefit from cisplatin-based NAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Cancer Multidisciplinary team, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Hye Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Ahwon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Keun Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seog-Nyeon
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Sei-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sook Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005047:Etoposide; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases; D002945:Cisplatin