title: hERG1 Channels and Glut-1 as Independent Prognostic Indicators of Worse Outcome in Stage I and II Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need to identify new markers to assess recurrence risk in early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We explored the prognostic impact of ether-a-gò-gò-related gene 1 channels and some hypoxia markers, in patients with nonmetastatic (stage I, II, and III) CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of hERG1, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), glucose transporter 1, carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), and p53 was tested by immunohistochemistry in 135 patients. The median follow-up was 35 months. Clinicopathologic parameters and overall survival were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hERG1 displayed a statistically significant association with Glut-1, VEGF-A, CA-IX, and EGF-R; p53 with VEGF-A and CA-IX; Glut-1 with the age of the patients; and EGF-R with TNM and mucin content. TNM and CA-IX were prognostic factors at the univariate analysis; TNM, hERG1, and Glut-1, at the multivariate analysis. Risk scores calculated from the final multivariate model allowed to stratify patients into four different risk groups: A) stage I-II, Glut-1 positivity, any hERG1; B) stage I-II, Glut-1 and hERG1 negativity; C) stage I-II, Glut-1 negativity, hERG1 positivity; D) stage III, any Glut-1 and any hERG1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hERG1 positivity with Glut-1 negativity identifies a patient group with poor prognosis within stage I-II CRC. The possibility that these patients might benefit from adjuvant therapy, independently from the TNM stage, is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More robust prognostic and predictive markers, supplementing standard clinical and pathologic staging, are needed for node-negative patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lastraioli
authors.forename: Lapo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bencini
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Maria Raffaella
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Romoli
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Crociani
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giommoni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Messerini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gasperoni
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Costanzo
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: Annarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcangeli