<p>Fibroblast Activation Protein-α Expressing Fibroblasts Promote Lymph Node Metastasis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma</p>

Abstract

Point your SmartPhone at the code above. If you have a QR code reader the video abstract will appear. Or use: https://youtu.be/MBJOomBEfIE Background and Objectives: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains one of the most common malignancies in China and has a high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a serine peptidase the expression of which in cancer-associated fibroblasts has been associated with a higher risk of metastases and poor survival. This study aimed to analyze the correlation of FAP-α expression with the lymph node metastasis and prognostic significance in ESCC. Methods: FAP-α expression was examined in 121 resected ESCC specimens and 10 adjacent normal tissue using immunohistochemistry. FAP-α expression was scored in the stromal fibroblasts adjacent to neoplastic nests. A chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between FAP-α expression in tumors stromal and lymph node metastasis of ESCC. The association between FAP-α expression and prognosis was evaluated using univariable and multivariable statistical modeling. Results: FAP-α expression was absent in the benign controls. FAP-α expression was evident in the stromal 37% (45/121) of ESCC. Expression of FAP-α level is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.023), but it is not correlated to age, gender, and tumor location in ESCC patients. Stromal FAP-α expression was significantly associated with poor survival in univariable (HR 2.009; 95% CI 1.259-3.205; p=0.003) and multivariable analysis (HR 1.833; 95% CI 1.144-2.937; p=0.012). Conclusion: FAP-α may be an important regulator in lymph node metastasis of ESCC and may provide a novel therapeutic target in ESCC.

Gene expression profile in metastatic and non-metastatic parathyroid carcinoma

“…The combination of a CDC73 gene mutation and the negative immunostaining of parafibromin cause an increased likelihood of malignancy and predict a less favorable clinical outcome (Cetani et al 2013). Very recently, Li et al associated CDC73 mutations impacting the C-terminal domain of parafibromin to the predisposition to PC development (Li et al 2020). It is noteworthy that all CDC73 mutations we identified were nonsense, large deletion or frameshift leading to a truncating protein.…”

Expression of GLUT4 and FAP in urothelial bladder carcinoma: correlation with angiogenesis and clinicopathological characteristics

“…0: negative (-), 1-4: weakly positive (+), 5-8: moderately positive (++), and 9-12: strongly positive (+++). Moderate and strong positivity were considered a high expression group, while negative and weak positivity were considered a low expression group [20].…”

68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor PET/CT on gross tumour volume delineation for radiotherapy planning of oesophageal cancer

“…In particular, FAP-positive fibroblasts can secrete CCL2 and interleukin-6 to promote tumour progression in oesophageal cancer [27]. Additionally, FAPpositive fibroblasts were highly associated with lymph node metastasis in clinical specimens and mouse models [29,30]. We reported a case in which FAPI PET/CT could improve the detection of nodal metastasis and evaluate early response to chemoradiotherapy in oesophageal cancer [17], both of which are disadvantages of FDG PET/CT [31].…”