title: PDGFR-α and CD117 Expression Pattern in Esophageal Carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite advanced diagnostics and multimodal treatments, the overall 5-year survival rate for patients with esophageal cancer remains low. In the past, several specific antibodies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, targeting different steps of carcinogenesis were investigated. We examined two receptor tyrosine kinases, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR-α) and mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (CD117) in esophageal carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue samples of 52 Norwegian patients who underwent esophagectomy were examined using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PDGFR-α and CD117 expression was observed in cancer cells in all samples of both carcinoma types. A higher PDGFR-α immunoreactivity was detected in the squamous cell carcinoma group (p=0.032). Surprisingly, a higher number of PDGFR-α-positive cells in the analyzed samples for the entire population was associated with longer survival (p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of our study need to be further validated as we examined a low number of patients. Both PDGFR-α and CD117 probably play an important role in the progression of esophageal carcinoma, and they may possibly be targets for biological anticancer therapy in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway mariuszg@online.no.
authors.forename: Mariusz Adam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Goscinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Stein Gunnar
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Karl-Erik
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Giercksky
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jahn Marthin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nesland
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Zhenhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
keywords: CD117; PDGFR-α; adenocarcinoma; esophagus; immunohistochemistry; squamous cell carcinoma