title: Podoplanin and SOX2 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy.
abstract: Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery are the standard approaches for locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, the overall cure rate is very low. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the expression of podoplanin and SOX2 known as stemness markers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their association with clinical outcome. We obtained a total of 20 specimens from patients with ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant CRT (30-40 Gy; 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin) followed by surgery. Podoplanin and SOX2 expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and the association of their expressions with clinicopathological variables was investigated. Podoplanin and SOX2 staining was detected not only in residual cancer cells, but also in the basal layer of adjacent normal mucosa after neoadjuvant CRT. High expression of podoplanin was correlated with lymph node metastasis, advanced postoperative stage and vascular invasion (P<0.05), while, high expression of SOX2 was correlated with lymphatic, vascular invasion, poor differentiated tumor and incomplete resection (P<0.05). High expression of podoplanin was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P<0.05). In conclusion, the expression levels of podoplanin and SOX2 expression may be useful prognostic markers for ESCC treated with neoadjuvant CRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Division of Reparative Medicine, Institute of Life Sciences, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan. saigusa@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saigusa
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toiyama
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishino
authors.forename: Yoshinaga
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okugawa
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000098853:Podoplanin
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C117468:PDPN protein, human; D000098853:Podoplanin; C527782:SOX2 protein, human