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

Purpose: Preferential expression of the gamma (2) chain of laminin-5 in inv ading carcinoma cells has been implicated in tumor invasion. The aim of thi s 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 immunohistochemica lly detected laminin gamma (2) chain expression in esophageal SCC and clini copathological 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 far 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 mere observed in 44 of 10 0 cases, were judged to be positive for laminin gamma (2) chain. Laminin ga mma (2) chain positivity was significantly correlated with depth of invasio n, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, advanced pTNM stage, recurren ce, and recurrence within the first postoperative year. Patients with lamin in gamma (2) chain-positive carcinoma had a significantly shorter disease-f ree and overall survival time than did those with laminin gamma (2) chain-n egative carcinoma. Laminin gamma (2) chain retained its significant predict ive value for disease-free and overall survival in multivariate analysis th at included conventional clinicopathological factors. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the laminin gamma (2) chain plays a k ey role in the progression of esophageal carcinoma and that its detection i s useful for the prediction of recurrence and poor prognosis.