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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Primary research

Cellular and clinicopathological features of the IL-33/ST2 axis in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Authors: Guanglin Cui, Jingli Ren, Gang Xu, Zhenfeng Li, Wei Zheng, Aping Yuan

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Emerging evidence has suggested that interleukin (IL)-33 and its primary functional receptor ST2 are involved in the pathogenesis of tumorigenesis.

Methods

Using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and double immunofluorescence staining, we characterized the cellular and clinicopathological features of the IL-33/ST2 axis in different compartments in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) surgical specimens.

Results

IHC data revealed an increased expression of IL-33-immunoreactivity (IR) and ST2-IR located in both ESCC cells and tumor stromal cells; which were associated with advanced clinicopathological features such as TNM stages and node involvement. However, the Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that densities of neither IL-33 positive nor ST2 positive cells in both the ESCC mass and stroma were associated with the overall survival rate in patients with ESCC. Double immunofluorescence staining for cellular feature analysis demonstrated that these IL-33 positive and ST2 positive cells in ESCCs were with a high proliferation rate, and IL-33-IR was frequently co-expressed with ST2-IR in both ESCC and stromal cells.

Conclusion

Significant altered cellular features of the IL-33/ST2 axis in ESCCs were associated with advanced clinicopathological variables. The data suggest that the IL-33/ST2 axis might be involved in the progression of human ESCCs.
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Metadata
Title
Cellular and clinicopathological features of the IL-33/ST2 axis in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas
Authors
Guanglin Cui
Jingli Ren
Gang Xu
Zhenfeng Li
Wei Zheng
Aping Yuan
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-018-0700-2

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