title: High expression of CD39/ENTPD1 in malignant epithelial cells of human rectal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: The ectonucleotidase CD39 is pivotal in the conversion of immunostimulatory adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into immunosuppressive adenosine which potently inhibits host immune responses against cancer. This study investigated the expression level and prognostic significance of CD39 in human rectal adenocarcinoma. Our data demonstrated that CD39 staining strongly marked malignant epithelial cells where the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of CD39 were significantly increased compared with paracancerous controls. In addition to primary tumors, CD39 was also abundantly expressed in liver metastases and tumor-draining lymph nodes from metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma. Although patients with higher CD39 density in tumor cells were more likely to have favorable characteristics (early TNM and N stages) and overall survival, the singular parameter cannot be used as an independent factor for predicting patients' prognosis. Intriguingly, combined analysis of CD39 and CD73 expression was more efficient to foretell patient's outcome where patients with increased CD73 but decreased CD39 levels displayed a worst prognosis. Taken together, the current study revealed that malignant epithelial cells of human rectal adenocarcinoma strongly express CD39 that may play a potential role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. Although high expression of CD39 in tumor cells is correlated with favorable clinical outcome, the combination of CD39 and CD73 expression may have a better prognostic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Zuan
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center Lab, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering & Antibody, Beijing, 100853, China. foxp3_smmu@163.com.
authors.forename: Hua-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Colo-Rectal Disease Surgery, The Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 100088, China. sagh_zk@126.com.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001081:Apyrase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; C548241:NT5E protein, human; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen
keywords: CD39; CD73; ENTPD1; Rectal adenocarcinoma; Survival