title: Intratumoral polymorphonuclear granulocyte is associated with poor prognosis in squamous esophageal cancer by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) infiltration in tumor remains unclear in esophageal cancer (EC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study on consecutive patients with primary squamous EC. The potential roles of PMN infiltration into tumor nests were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The interactions of PMNs and tumor cells were investigated in an in vitro coculture system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intratumoral PMN is an independent prognostic factor. PMN infiltration induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells with the initiation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates intratumoral PMN is an independent unfavorable predictor in squamous EC. PMN promotes cancer progression partly by its ability to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition via TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Guanghui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meixiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: epithelial–mesenchymal transition; esophageal cancer; polymorphonuclear granulocytes; prognosis