Research Of Correlation Between EGFR,COX-2and Radiosensitivity Of ESCC

Objective:To research the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and radiosensitivity and efficiency of ESCC.Methods:The expression of COX-2and EGFR in106patients with ESCC who underwent radiotherapy alone were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and efficiency of radiotherapy for ESCC was analyzed by X2test, Spearman Correlation analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.Results:It was found that the positive rate of COX-2and EGFR in106ESCC tissue were64.2%and72.6%respectively. The positive rate of COX-2in the middle thoracic ESCC was lowerer than in the neck and upper thoracic ESCC and lower thoracic ESCC(P=0.035).The expression of COX-2was positively correlated with T classification, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.The differentiate degree was correlated with the expression of EGFR, the lower differentiate degree,the higher the expression of EGFR (P=0.017). The expression rate of EGFR in ESCC with lymph node metastasis was higher than in ESCC without lymph node metastasis (P=0.029).The correlation between the expression levels of COX-2and EGFR was not statistically significant. The expression of COX-2was correlated with radiosensitivity of ESCC, but is not independent factors.In all patients the complete response was41cases(38.7%), partial response was55cases (51.9%).1-year,2-year and3-year overall survival rates were71.6%,35.1%,24.3%respectively. The expression rates of COX-2showed no relation with overall survival (OS),but OS was significantly worse if EGFR positive expression and they were positive simultaneously (P<0.05).Cox regression showed that tumor infiltrating tissues and organs surrounding the esophagus, lymph node metastasis,voice hoarse, lesion length, radiotherapy treatment time, EGFR positive expression, positive expression of COX and EGFR simultaneously were independent prognostic factors.Conclusion:COX-2and EGFR express generally in ESCC. The expression of COX-2was correlated with tumor location, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. The expression of EGFR was correlated with degree of tumor differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. The expression of COX-2was correlated with radiosensitivity of ESCC, but was not independent factor.The positive expression EGFR, positive expression EGFR of COX and EGFR simultaneously were the independent prognostic factors of ESCC radiotherapy, and could be used as predictive marker for radiosensitivity of ESCC.