Affiliations: [a] School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China | [b] Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250117, Shandong, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Baosheng Li, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan 250117, Shandong, China. Tel.: +86 0531 67626922; Fax: +81 0531 67626922; E-mail:baoshli62@163.com
Abstract: PURPOSE: We evaluate whether the change of heat shock protein 90a
(HSP90a) level before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) affects tumor response and overall
survival (OS). This study aimed to investigate the role of HSP90a reduction
ratio after CRT. METHODS: Correlations between pre-CRT HSP90a levels and the tumor
response to CRT were analysed. Patients were divided into three groups
(Group 1: Serum HSP90a levels pretreatment CRT less than 124 ng/mL; Group 2:
pre-CRT HSP90a of 124 ng/mL or more with HSP90a reduction ratio of 65% or
more; Group 3: pre-CRT HSP90a of 124 ng/mL or more with HSP90a reduction
ratio less than 65%), and their oncologic outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The rates of good response in HSP90a low (pre-CRT HSP90a ≤ 124 ng/mL) and high groups (pre-CRT HSP90a ≤ 124 ng/mL) were
67.3% (68/101) and 37.78% (20/79), respectively (P= 0.004). The rates
of good response were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3
(58.5% vs. 46.0% and 27.8%, respectively; P= 0.013). The results
from statistical analysis indicated that the tumor response was significantly
associated with the serum levels of pre-CRT HSP90a and HSP90a Group (P<
0.05). The OS rate was not different between Groups 1 and 2 but was
significantly lower in Group 3. HSP90a Group were independent prognostic
factors for OS. CONCLUSIONS: HSP90a levels could be of clinical value as a
predictor of response to CRT HSP90a reduction ratio might be an independent
prognostic factor for in ESCC patients treated with definitive CRT.
Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, chemoradiotherapy, heat shock protein 90, reduction ratio
