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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Role of autophagy-related protein expression in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Authors: Byoung Yong Shim, Der Sheng Sun, Hye Sung Won, Myung Ah Lee, Soon Uk Hong, Ji-Han Jung, Hyeon-Min Cho, Yoon Ho Ko

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, has complex roles in tumourigenesis and resistance to cancer treatment in humans. The aim of this study was to explore the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins in patients with rectal cancer and evaluate their clinical role in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy setting.

Methods

All specimens evaluated were obtained from 101 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery. The primary outcomes measured were the expression levels of two autophagy-related proteins (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3β) and beclin-1) by immunohistochemistry and their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

Results

Among the 101 patients, the frequency of high expression of beclin-1 was 31.7 % (32/101) and that of LC3β was 46.5 % (47/101). A pathologic complete response was inversely associated with LC3β expression (P = 0.003) and alterations in the expression of autophagy-related proteins (P = 0.046). In the multivariate analysis, however, autophagy-related protein expression did not show prognostic significance for relapse-free survival or overall survival.

Conclusions

High expression of autophagy-related proteins shows a strong negative association with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer. Autophagy has clear implications as a therapeutic target with which to improve the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
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Metadata
Title
Role of autophagy-related protein expression in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Authors
Byoung Yong Shim
Der Sheng Sun
Hye Sung Won
Myung Ah Lee
Soon Uk Hong
Ji-Han Jung
Hyeon-Min Cho
Yoon Ho Ko
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-016-2250-0

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