title: Prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor family can be improved by initial chemotherapy with docetaxel, fluorouracil, and cisplatin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family, Ki-67 and p53 are important biomarkers for several malignancies. However, few studies have examined the role of these in prognosis and therapeutic sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The efficacy of triple-drug combination therapy with docetaxel, fluorouracil and cisplatin has recently been expected for ESCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects comprised 142 patients with ESCC who underwent operation (OP group, n = 54), neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, fluorouracil, and cisplatin (DFP therapy) followed by operation (NAC group, n = 37) or initial systemic DFP therapy (CT group, n = 51) between January 2004 and December 2010. Immunohistochemical expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2, HER3, Ki-67, and p53 were evaluated and compared with prognosis and sensitivity to DFP therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive correlations existed between EGFR, HER2, and HER3 expressions. In the OP group, EGFR was independently associated with postoperative recurrence in multivariate analysis (P = .036). In the NAC group, EGFR correlated with pathological response to DFP therapy (P = .004). In the CT group, EGFR, HER2, and HER3 correlated with clinical response to DFP therapy and EGFR was independently associated with favorable prognosis in multivariate analysis (P = .022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR represents a predictor of postoperative recurrence and sensitivity to triple-drug combination therapy including a taxane. EGFR-positive patients may show improved prognosis with taxane combination chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy for HER family members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic, Endocrine Surgery and Oncology, Institute of Health Bioscience, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. youtayotayota@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Yota
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamai
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takechi
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furukita
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajiura
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minato
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tangoku
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077143:Docetaxel; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005472:Fluorouracil; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D043823:Taxoids; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human