Reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate, by immunohistochemical analysis, the protein expression of beta-catenin and p53 in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens. The clinical relevance and prognostic significance of the expression of these proteins were also analyzed.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 68 resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumor specimens to detect the expression of beta-catenin and p53. The correlation between the results of immunoexpression and the clinicopathologic parameters and patient survival was processed statistically.

Results: Reduced membranous beta-catenin expression was noted in 43 (63.2%) of 68 tumor specimens. Increased expression of p53 was observed in 43 (63.2%) of 68 specimens. Reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression was associated with the presence of distant metastasis (P = .006). Patients with reduced membranous beta-catenin expression had a worse prognosis than patients with normal membranous beta-catenin expression (P = .005). Patients with combined increased p53 and reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression had the worst prognosis (P = .012). In a multivariate survival analysis, reduced membranous beta-catenin expression and nodal involvement were independent prognostic factors (P = .004 and .019, respectively).

Conclusions: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression was associated with the presence of distant metastasis and a poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Combined increased p53 and reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression indicated a very poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Further investigation is needed to understand the roles of beta-catenin and p53 in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.