Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2010; 16(41): 5195-5202
Published online Nov 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i41.5195
Prognostic relevance of β-catenin expression in T2-3N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Dong-Rong Situ, Yi Hu, Zhi-Hua Zhu, Jian Wang, Hao Long, Tie-Hua Rong
Dong-Rong Situ, Yi Hu, Zhi-Hua Zhu, Hao Long, Tie-Hua Rong, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Jian Wang, Department of Anesthesia, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Situ DR, Hu Y and Zhu ZH contributed equally to this work; Zhu ZH, Long H and Rong TH designed the research; Situ DR, Wang J, Hu Y and Zhu ZH performed the research; Situ DR, Hu Y and Zhu ZH analyzed the data; Situ DR and Hu Y wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Zhi-Hua Zhu, Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China. zhu-zh@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-20-87343259 Fax: +86-20-87343392
Received: August 4, 2010
Revised: August 25, 2010
Accepted: September 1, 2010
Published online: November 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To study the expression of β-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) at stage T2-3N0M0 and its relation with the prognosis of ESCC patients.

METHODS: Expression of β-catenin in 227 ESCC specimens was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A reproducible semi-quantitative method which takes both staining percentage and intensity into account was applied in IHC scoring, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to select the cut-off score for high or low IHC reactivity. Then, correlation of β-catenin expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis of ESCC patients was determined.

RESULTS: No significant correlation was observed between β-catenin expression and clinicopathological parameters in terms of gender, age, tumor size, tumor grade, tumor location, depth of invasion and pathological stage. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the up-regulated expression of β-catenin indicated a poorer post-operative survival rate of ESCC patients at stage T2-3N0M0 (P = 0.004), especially of those with T3 lesions (P = 0.014) or with stage IIB diseases (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis also confirmed that β-catenin was an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival rate of ESCC patients at stage T2-3N0M0 (relative risk = 1.642, 95% CI: 1.159-2.327, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Elevated β-catenin expression level may be an adverse indicator for the prognosis of ESCC patients at stage T2-3N0M0, especially for those with T3 lesions or stage IIB diseases.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; β-catenin; Prognosis; Receiver operating characteristic curve; Immunohistochemistry