Squamous cell carcinoma-antigen messenger RNA level in peripheral blood predicts recurrence after resection in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of this study was to clarify whether preoperative squamous cell carcinoma-antigen messenger RNA (SCC-Ag mRNA) level in peripheral blood can be used to predict tumor recurrence after curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS:

A prospective analysis was conducted for 46 consecutive patients who underwent curative esophagectomy and who had no residual tumor. The SCC-Ag mRNA level in the peripheral blood of each patient was measured preoperatively by using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Median follow-up period was 34 months.

RESULTS:

Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the optimal cutoff level of SCC-Ag mRNA was 40. Patients were divided into the high SCC-Ag mRNA level group (n = 14) and the low SCC-Ag mRNA level group (n = 32). The cumulative probabilities of tumor recurrence were higher in the high SCC-Ag mRNA level group (probability of recurrence was 71% at 2 years) than in the low group (22% at 2 years; P = .0005). SCC-Ag mRNA level (relative risk, 3.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-8.54; P = .040) was the strongest independent predictor of recurrence by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Preoperative SCC-Ag mRNA levels in the peripheral blood are the best predictive factor for recurrence in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who undergo curative resection (R0).

• Authors: Hideyuki Honma, Tatsuo Kanda, Hiroaki Ito, Toshifumi Wakai, Satoru Nakagawa, Manabu Ohashi, Yu Koyama, Vladimir A Valera, Kouhei Akazawa, Katsuyoshi Hatakeyama
• Journal: Surgery (Surgery) Vol. 139 Issue 5 Pg. 678-85 (May 2006) ISSN: 0039-6060 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16701102 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• RNA, Messenger
• Serpins
• squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen

Topics

• Aged
• Antigens, Neoplasm (blood, genetics)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (blood, genetics, mortality, surgery)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Esophageal Neoplasms (blood, genetics, mortality, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• RNA, Messenger (blood, genetics)
• Recurrence
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Serpins (blood, genetics)
• Survival Analysis