High expression of zinc-binding protein-89 predicts decreased survival in esophageal squamous cell cancer.
BACKGROUND
Zinc-binding protein-89 (ZBP-89), a Krüppel-type four-zinc finger transcription factor, is associated with many cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. It has been reported to be involved in several human cancers. However, ZBP-89 expression pattern and its clinical significance have not yet been investigated in esophageal squamous cell cancer.


METHODS
In this study, immunostaining was performed to detect ZBP-89 expression in esophageal squamous cell cancer, and then the correlations between ZBP-89 expression and both clinicopathologic variables and overall survival were analyzed.


RESULTS
Compared with adjacent normal tissues, ZBP-89 expression was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous cell cancer tissues. Increased ZBP-89 expression was associated with N category (p = 0.009) and TNM stage (p = 0.023). Patients with high expression of ZBP-89 demonstrated shortened overall survival compared with those with low expression of ZBP-89 (mean overall survival, 56.961 months versus 76.029 months; p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that ZBP-89 expression had a significant, independent predictive value for survival of esophageal squamous cell cancer (relative risk, 1.581; p = 0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that increased expression of ZBP-89 is associated with poor prognosis for esophageal squamous cell cancer patients and may act as a novel, useful, and independent prognostic indicator for esophageal squamous cell cancer. Further studies are warranted.
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Shu-Mei
SM
Yan
School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Hui-Ni
HN
Wu
Department of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Fan
F
He
Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Xiao-peng
XP
Hu
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zhi-yi
ZY
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Ma-Yan
MY
Huang
Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China.
Xiao
X
Wu
Department of Endoscopy, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Chun-yu
CY
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: liyong@sysucc.org.cn.
Yong
Y
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C110951:ZNF148 protein, human