title: Reduction of AZGP1 predicts poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients in Northern China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a key regulator in lipid mobilization, AZGP1 has been reported to play a significant role in various cancers. This study was carried out to investigate the role of AZGP1 in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients in Northern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through the application of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining, AZGP1 expression in ESCC tissues from Northern China was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased expression of AZGP1 was observed in ~60% ESCC patients. AZGP1 downregulation was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.035), advanced clinical stage (P=0.018), poor prognosis for 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS;P<0.001), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS;P=0.016), and metastasis-free survival (MeFS;P=0.014). In addition, Cox multivariate analysis revealed that AZGP1 downregulation remained to be an independent prognosticator for shorter DSS (P=0.001), LRFS (P=0.011), and MeFS (P=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AZGP1 might be a candidate tumor suppressor and a potential novel prognostic biomarker for ESCC patients in Northern China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan.
authors.forename: Yanru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Suxia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Qiming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: AZGP1; ESCC; Northern China; prognosis