MK2 and ETV1 Are Prognostic Factors in Esophageal Adenocarcinomas

Background. Esophageal cancer is ranked in the top ten of diagnosed tumors worldwide. Even though improvements in survival could be noticed over the last years, prognosis remains poor. ETS translocation variant 1 (ETV1) is a member of a family of transcription factors and is phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2). Aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of MK2 and ETV1 in esophageal cancer. Methods. Consecutive patients that underwent surgical resection at the department of surgery at the Medical University of Vienna between 1991 and 2012 were included into this study. After microscopic analysis, tissue micro arrays (TMAs) were created and immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies against MK2 and ETV1. Results. 323 patients were included in this study. Clinical data was achieved from a prospective patient data base. Nuclear overexpression of MK2 was observed in 143 (44.3%) cases for nuclear staining and in 142 (44.0%) cases a cytoplasmic overexpression of MK2 was observed. Nuclear and cytoplasmic ETV1 overexpression was detected in 20 cases (6.2%) and 30 cases (9.3%), respectively. In univariate survival analysis, cMK2 and nETV1 were found to be significantly associated with patients' overall survival. Whereas overexpression of cMK2 was associated with shorter, nETV1 was associated with longer overall survival. In multivariate survival analysis, both cMK2 and nETV1 were found to be independent prognostic factors for the subgroup of EAC as well. Discussion. Expression of MK2 and ETV1 are prognostic factors in patients, with esophageal adenocarcinoma.