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Quantitative analysis of Survivin RNA expression in blood as a non‐invasive predictor of response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in esophageal cancer
Author(s) -
Grimminger Peter,
Vallböhmer Daniel,
Hoffmann Andreas,
Schulte Christian,
Bollschweiler Elfriede,
Schneider Paul M.,
Hölscher Arnulf H.,
Metzger Ralf,
Brabender Jan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.21355
Subject(s) - medicine , esophageal cancer , survivin , neoadjuvant therapy , oncology , complete response , chemoradiotherapy , cancer , chemotherapy , breast cancer
Background and Objectives Analysis of survivin RNA expression in peripheral blood as a non‐invasive molecular predictor of response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cancer of the esophagus. Material and Methods Blood samples were drawn from 29 patients with esophageal cancer prior to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. After extraction of cellular tumor‐RNA from blood samples, quantitative expression analysis of survivin was done by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR. Results Twenty of 29 (69%) of patients showed a minor histopathological response and 9 of 29 (31%) showed a major‐response to neadjuvant radiochemotherapy. RNA expression in blood of patients was detectable for survivin in 27.6%, and in 100% for β‐actin. The mean survivin expression was not significantly different between minor‐ and major‐responders. No significant associations were detected between survivin expression levels and patients clinical variables. A high expression level for survivin was significantly associated with a minor‐response to neoadjuvant treatment ( P = 0.042). Relative survivin expression levels above 0.15 were not associated with major histopathological response (sensitivity: 35%; specificity: 100%). Conclusion Minor‐response to the applied therapy was significantly associated with a high survivin RNA expression level in patient's blood. Survivi n appears to be a specific non‐invasive predictor of response to neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:447–451. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.