title: Clinicopathological significance of LAT1 and ASCT2 in patients with surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amino acid transporters are highly expressed in various human cancers. L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and system alanine-serine-cysteine amino acid transporter-2 (ASCT2) play a crucial role in tumor progression and survival. However, the clinicopathological significance of these transporters in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-seven patients with surgically resected ESCC were evaluated. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed for LAT1, ASCT2, CD98, Ki-67, and micro-vessel density (MVD), as determined by CD34 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LAT1 and ASCT2 were positively expressed in 59% (93/157) and 48% (76/157) of tumors respectively. LAT1 and ASCT2 expression significantly correlated with T factor, N factor, lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, and CD98 expression. The 5-year survival rates of LAT1-high and -low and ASCT2-high and -low expressing patients were 62.0% and 69.6% (P < 0.05) and 59.6% and 70.1% (P = 0.068), respectively. The combined positive expression of LAT1 and ASCT2 was a significant prognostic factor in univariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High expression of LAT1 and ASCT2 correlates with metastasis and invasion. Accordingly, these proteins could serve as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for treating patients with surgically resectable ESCC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:381-389. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology Clinical Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaira
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokobori
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shushi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagamori
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsunari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology Clinical Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D026962:Amino Acid Transport System ASC / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D027283:Large Neutral Amino Acid-Transporter 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
chemical_list: D026962:Amino Acid Transport System ASC; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D027283:Large Neutral Amino Acid-Transporter 1; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; C420506:SLC1A5 protein, human
keywords: ASCT2; LAT1; esophageal cancer; immunohistochemistry; prognostic factor