1
|
Roseweir AK, Kong CY, Park JH, Bennett L, Powell AGMT, Quinn J, van Wyk HC, Horgan PG, McMillan DC, Edwards J, Roxburgh CS. A novel tumor-based epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition score that associates with prognosis and metastasis in patients with Stage II/III colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer 2018; 144:150-159. [PMID: 29992570 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
It is increasingly appreciated that host factors within the tumor center and microenvironment play a key role in dictating colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes. As a result, the metastatic process has now been defined as a result of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Establishment of the role of EMT within the tumor center and its effect on the tumor microenvironment would be beneficial for prognosis and therapeutic intervention in CRC. The present study assessed five immunohistochemical EMT markers within the tumor center on a 185 Stage II/III CRC patient tissue microarray. In 185 patients with CRC, cytoplasmic snail (HR 1.94 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-3.29, p = 0.012) and a novel combined EMT score (HR 3.86 95% CI 2.17-6.86, p < 0.001) were associated with decreased cancer-specific survival. The combined EMT score was also associated with increased tumor budding (p = 0.046), and systemic inflammation (p = 0.007), as well as decreased memory T-cells within the stroma (p = 0.030) and at the invasive margin (p = 0.035). Furthermore, the combined EMT score was associated with cancer-specific survival independent of TNM-stage (HR 4.12 95% CI 2.30-7.39, p < 0.001). In conclusion, a novel combined EMT score stratifies patient's survival in Stage II/III CRC and associates with key factors of tumor metastasis. Therefore, the combined EMT score could be used to identify patients at risk of micrometastases and who may benefit from standard adjuvant therapy, potentially in combination with EMT blockade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A K Roseweir
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - C Y Kong
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - J H Park
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay Bennett
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - A G M T Powell
- Department of Genetics and Cancer, University of Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - J Quinn
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - H C van Wyk
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - P G Horgan
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - D C McMillan
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Edwards
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - C S Roxburgh
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|