title: Immunohistochemical expression of nestin in rhabdomyosarcoma: implications for clinicopathology and patient outcome.
abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly malignant cancer. Over the last two decades, prognosis for RMS patients has significantly improved, with the exception of those in the high-risk group. In order to identify new prognostic factors, we investigated the expression of nestin in RMS cells and its correlation with clinicopathological features and patient outcome. The analysis of overall survival for all patients (N = 30) revealed 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates of 93.3, 83.3, 66.7, 63.3, and 63.3%, respectively. Nestin overexpression significantly correlated with survival (P = 0.044). Survival of patients with ≤ 50% nestin-positive cells was 90, 70, and 40% after 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, and remained unchanged until the end of the investigation period. The study group composed of patients exhibiting nestin expression in >50% of cells showed 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year survival rates of 95, 90, 80, and 75%, respectively, remaining stable at 75% for the fifth year of observation. A nestin-positive expression rate lower than 50% was observed more frequently in older patients (43.60 ± 27.58 years; P = 0.028). In addition, higher rates of nestin expression were observed in most embryonal RMS specimens and low-grade tumors, in early stages of the disease, and among younger patients. Our results lead us to propose nestin as possible positive prognostic factor in RMS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glumac
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "Vinča" Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pejic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kovacevic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dundjerovic
authors.affiliation: Department for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, "Vinča" Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidovic
authors.affiliation: Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ristic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sopta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D064231:Nestin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C577484:NES protein, human; D064231:Nestin