Yali Zhong1, Ruixia Huang2, Xiaoran Li2, Ruiping Xu3, Fuyou Zhou4, Junsheng Wang3, Huijie Fan5, Mariusz Goscinski2, Mingzhi Zhang5, Jian-Guo Wen6, Jahn M Nesland2, Zhenhe Suo7. 1. Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 2. Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 3. Department of Oncology, Anyang Tumour Hospital, Anyang, P.R. China. 4. Department of Surgery, Anyang Tumour Hospital, Anyang, P.R. China. 5. Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China. 6. Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Medecine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, HP.R. China. 7. Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway zhenhes@medisin.uio.no.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aerobic glycolysis is an important hallmark of cancer cells. Deficiency of pyruvate dehydrogenase component α subunit (PDHE1α) leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes glycolysis. Therefore, studies on the expression of PDHE1α in cancer are warranted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PDHE1α protein was immunohistochemically investigated and analyzed in 157 samples of surgically dissected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 21 'normal' esophageal epithelia tissues. RESULTS: PDHE1α protein expression was lower in ESCC. Absence of PDHE1α protein expression in tumor cells was found in 77.1% of cases. Negativity for PDHE1α protein in tumor cells was correlated with poor tumor differentiation (p<0.05) and shorter overall survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Lack of PDHE1α protein expression in ESCC is associated with poor prognosis. Our findings also verify the existence of aerobic glycolysis switch in ESCC, and strongly advocate novel therapeutic strategies in reversing the Warburg effect in tumors. Copyright
BACKGROUND: Aerobic glycolysis is an important hallmark of cancer cells. Deficiency of pyruvate dehydrogenase component α subunit (PDHE1α) leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes glycolysis. Therefore, studies on the expression of PDHE1α in cancer are warranted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PDHE1α protein was immunohistochemically investigated and analyzed in 157 samples of surgically dissected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 21 'normal' esophageal epithelia tissues. RESULTS: PDHE1α protein expression was lower in ESCC. Absence of PDHE1α protein expression in tumor cells was found in 77.1% of cases. Negativity for PDHE1α protein in tumor cells was correlated with poor tumor differentiation (p<0.05) and shorter overall survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Lack of PDHE1α protein expression in ESCC is associated with poor prognosis. Our findings also verify the existence of aerobic glycolysis switch in ESCC, and strongly advocate novel therapeutic strategies in reversing the Warburg effect in tumors. Copyright