Dysfunction of apoptosis and autophagy correlates with local recurrence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after definitive chemoradiation

Abstract Objective Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is one of the standard treatments for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but local recurrence main cause treatment failure. The changes in apoptosis and autophagy recurrent tumors patients with ESCC following dCRT have been poorly estimated. Thus, this study aimed to investigate expressions key regulators matched paired samples primary ESCC. Methods medical records locally advanced who developed after were reviewed, expression profiling apoptosis-related genes, apoptosis, autophagy-related proteins detected normal epithelium Results A total 126 enrolled, 52.4% them had stage III disease. 1-, 3- 5-year recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates 54.8, 19.8 14.3%, respectively, a median LRFS 13.0 months. Patients T2 tumor or II disease showed significantly prolonged compared that T3-4 Apoptotic Machinery genes identified 5 upregulated 7 downregulated their levels tumors. High CD40, TRAF4 BCL2A1, low CARD6 TNFRSF21 associated increased risk early dCRT. No differences apoptotic index between detected. However, typical morphological features autophagosomes elevated LC3-II protein samples, positive was correlated recurrence. Conclusion Our findings indicated dysfunction receiving Further studies are necessary understand biology cancer.