Expression analysis of iPS cell - inductive genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by tissue microarray.

AIM To understand the role of iPS inductive genes in esophageal cancer, we examined the expression of Sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), Octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4), Krueppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), c-Myelocytomatosis viral oncogene (c-MYC) and Tir Na Nog (NANOG) using an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue micrroarray. MATERIALS AND METHODS The immunohistochemical expression levels of the five genes were compared to the clinicopathological data of the 81 patients with esophageal cancer. RESULTS There was no relationship between the expression of the five genes and TNM factors of the patients. High expression of NANOG was an independent favorable prognostic factor (p=0.041). Among the patients who received postoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy, patients with NANOG-positive tumor had significantly better prognosis than those whose tumors were NANOG negative (p=0.024). On the other hand, those with c-MYC-positive expression tended to have a worse prognosis and were resistant to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. CONCLUSION NANOG expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for patient with esophageal cancer. Patients with NANOG-positive expression tumor may be good candidates for cisplatin-based treatment.