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Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research Article

Expression of activated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 as a predictive and prognostic marker in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Authors: Chuying Huang, Li Wang, Xibiao Yang, Lin Lai, Dian Chen, Chunyan Duan

Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) is an oncogenic transcription factor constitutively active and aberrantly expressed in various types of malignancies, and the expression of p-STAT3 has been recognized as a predictor of poor survival. It remains unclear how variations in p-STAT3 expression influence clinical outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

Between 1 January 2008 and 1 November 2013, 153 advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients (stage IV) from two cancer centers in West China were treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients with ESCC and examined the correlation between p-STAT3 levels and clinical outcomes in esophageal cancer patients.

Results

Among the 153 patients, positive p-STAT3 expression was observed in 73 of 153 (47.7 %) cases. The median PFS for patients with positive expression of p-STAT3 and negative expression of p-STAT3 was 5.0 months and 6.9 months, respectively (P < 0.001). The median overall survival was significantly higher in patients with p-STAT3 negative tumors than in those with p-STAT3 positive tumors (9.9 vs 8.9 months, P = 0.026). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that p-STAT3 expression was statistically indicative of a poor prognosis for progression-free survival.

Conclusions

These data showed that p-STAT3 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer and could be used as a predictive and prognostic marker in esophageal cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Expression of activated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 as a predictive and prognostic marker in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors
Chuying Huang
Li Wang
Xibiao Yang
Lin Lai
Dian Chen
Chunyan Duan
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
World Journal of Surgical Oncology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7819
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-015-0726-z

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