Background: A reliable marker of chemoradiosensitivity that would enable appropriate and individualized treatment of thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer has long been sought. We investigated whether regenerating gene (REG) Ialpha is such a marker.
Methods: We assessed expression of REG Ialpha in untreated endoscopic biopsy specimens and examined the correlation between REG Ialpha expression and the clinical responses to definitive chemoradiotherapy and prognosis. We also examined the relationship between REG Ialpha expression in the resected tumor and the prognosis of patients who received esophagectomy for thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer.
Results: Among the 42 patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy, 8 of the 23 REG I-positive patients (35%) showed complete responses to chemoradiotherapy, while only one of the 19 REG I-negative patients did so. The survival rate among the REG I-positive patients was significantly better than among the REG I-negative patients. For the 76 patients treated surgically, there was no significant difference in the survival rates among the REG I-positive and REG I-negative patients.
Conclusions: REG Ialpha expression in squamous cell esophageal carcinoma may be a reliable marker of chemoradiosensitivity. We anticipate that it will enable us to provide more appropriate and individualized treatment to patients of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.