title: Longitudinal analysis of cytokine expression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and subsequent surgery in esophageal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to provide more insight in the course of cytokine concentrations related to pathologic response (pR) and complications after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients treated with NCRT followed by transthoracic esophagectomy (n = 35) or transthoracic esophagectomy alone (n = 8) were included. Eight different cytokine concentrations were determined during NCRT, esophagectomy, and the first postoperative week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet-activating factor before NCRT was associated with pR (P = .011) and remained elevated in patients with a better response. Concentrations of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1) were different between patients with and without NCRT. Decreased concentrations of Ang-1 on the third postoperative day were associated with postoperative complications (P = .046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this observational study, elevated platelet-activating factor concentrations before NCRT were associated with pR. NCRT is associated with decreased Ang-1 concentrations, whereas reduced Ang-1 concentrations were associated with postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30001, Groningen, 9700 RB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30001, Groningen, 9700 RB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maarten W N
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nijsten
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Véronique E M
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Mul
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geke A P
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hospers
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes G M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Burgerhof
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michel M R F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Struys
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30001, Groningen, 9700 RB, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.t.m.plukker@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: John Th M
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Plukker
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cytokine; Esophagectomy; Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy