hPEBP4 as a predictive marker for the pathological response of rectal cancer to preoperative radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The ability to predict tumor sensitivity toward radiotherapy is important in the personalized application of preoperative radiotherapy for patients with rectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to test the human phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 4 (hPEBP4) as a predictive marker of tumor response to preoperative radiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted, consisting of 86 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent short-course preoperative radiotherapy (20 Gy in five fractions for 1 week) followed by a radical resection. Both pretreatment biopsy specimens and resected primary tumor tissue were collected. Immunohistochemistry and tumor regression grading system were used to evaluate the expression of hPEBP4 in the pretreatment biopsy specimens and the response of rectal cancer to radiotherapy, respectively. Expression of hPEBP4 was correlated with tumor regression in the resected specimen and the clinical outcome of the patients as well.


RESULTS
We found that high expression of hPEBP4 was associated with radioresistance in both univariate and multivariate analyses, and patients with a high hPEBP4 expression had a poorer progression-free survival than those with low hPEBP4 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study revealed the independent predictive values of hPEBP4 in response of rectal cancer to preoperative radiotherapy, which suggests that upregulating hPEBP4 might be a potential mechanism by which rectal cancer cells avoid the destructive effects of radiotherapy.
Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China. doctorjianmingqiu@163.com
Jianming
J
Qiu
Guangen
G
Yang
Zhong
Z
Shen
Ya
Y
Xie
Lewei
L
Wang
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C518018:PE-binding protein 4, human; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein