Nucleostemin and TWIST as predictive markers for recurrence after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Abstract

We recently demonstrated that overexpression of the nucleolar GTP-binding protein nucleostemin drives the fraction of genetically-defined tumor cells that exhibit markers and tumorigenic properties of tumor initiating cells. More specifically, cells that constitutively express elevated levels of nucleostemin exhibit increased TWIST expression; expression of genes that induced pluripotent stem cells; enhanced radioresistance; tumor formation, even when small numbers of cells are implanted; and an increased propensity to metastasize. An immunohistochemical analysis of cancer stem cell markers, such as nucleostemin and TWIST has not been conducted in surgically-resected esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In the present study, we examined the expression of CD133, CD44, nucleostemin, guanine nucleotide-binding protein-like 3-like, and TWIST by immunohistochemistry in a series of 54 surgically-resected specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We identified that high nucleostemin proportion, TWIST intensity, and advanced pathological N stage were significantly correlated with poor relapse-free survival. Together, these observations imply nucleostemin and TWIST as the predictive markers for postoperative recurrence.

• Authors: Takako E Nakajima, Hiroshi Yoshida, Naoko Okamoto, Kengo Nagashima, Hirokazu Taniguchi, Yasuhide Yamada, Tadakazu Shimoda, Kenkichi Masutomi
• Journal: Cancer science (Cancer Sci) Vol. 103 Issue 2 Pg. 233-8 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1349-7006 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22050045 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 Japanese Cancer Association.

Chemical References

• AC133 Antigen
• Antigens, CD
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• GNL3 protein, human
• Glycoproteins
• Hyaluronan Receptors
• Nuclear Proteins
• PROM1 protein, human
• Peptides
• TWIST1 protein, human
• Twist-Related Protein 1
• GTP-Binding Proteins
• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• AC133 Antigen
• Adult
• Aged
• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics, metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cisplatin (therapeutic use)
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
• Esophageal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Female
• Fluorouracil (therapeutic use)
• GTP-Binding Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Glycoproteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hyaluronan Receptors (metabolism)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoadjuvant Therapy
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
• Neoplastic Stem Cells
• Nuclear Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Peptides (metabolism)
• Prognosis
• Twist-Related Protein 1 (genetics, metabolism)