Expression of the gamma(2) chain of laminin-5 at the invasive front is associated with recurrence and poor prognosis in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Preferential expression of the gamma(2) chain of laminin-5 in invading carcinoma cells has been implicated in tumor invasion. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of laminin gamma(2) chain expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGN: We analyzed the association between immunohistochemically detected laminin gamma(2) chain expression in esophageal SCC and clinicopathological characteristics, and we investigated whether laminin gamma(2) chain is a predictor of recurrence and/or survival.
RESULTS: The cytoplasm of carcinoma cells was stained for laminin gamma(2) at levels much stronger than those in normal esophageal basement membrane. The immunoreactivities at the invasive front were often more intense than those at the superficial layer. Sections with immunostaining signals in >30% of carcinoma cells at the invasive front, which were observed in 44 of 100 cases, were judged to be positive for laminin gamma(2) chain. Laminin gamma(2) chain positivity was significantly correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, advanced pTNM stage, recurrence, and recurrence within the first postoperative year. Patients with laminin gamma(2) chain-positive carcinoma had a significantly shorter disease-free and overall survival time than did those with laminin gamma(2) chain-negative carcinoma. Laminin gamma(2) chain retained its significant predictive value for disease-free and overall survival in multivariate analysis that included conventional clinicopathological factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the laminin gamma(2) chain plays a key role in the progression of esophageal carcinoma and that its detection is useful for the prediction of recurrence and poor prognosis.