Brief Article
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2014; 20(4): 1074-1078
Published online Jan 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.1074
Expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor in rectal cancer
Xiao-Dong Yang, Ping Huang, Feng Wang, Ze-Kuan Xu
Xiao-Dong Yang, Ping Huang, Feng Wang, Ze-Kuan Xu, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Yang XD and Huang P designed the research; Yang XD, Huang P and Xu ZK performed experiments and interpreted the data; Yang XD and Wang F wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Ping Huang, MD, Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. huangpingdoctor@163.com
Telephone: +86-25-83718836 Fax: +86-25-83718836
Received: August 5, 2013
Revised: October 25, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: January 28, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) expression before preoperative irradiation can predict the radiosensitivity of rectal cancer.

METHODS: The expression of G-CSFR was examined, using immunohistochemistry, in biopsy specimens from 126 patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma before preoperative irradiation. Radiosensitivity was then evaluated according to the Rectal Cancer Regression Grading. Endoscopic inspection was used to detect the tumor area in each patient. General patient information, such as age, gender, lymph node status, tumor size and degree of differentiation was recorded. A statistical analysis was then performed to evaluate the correlation between clinical or pathological parameters and G-CSFR expression in tumors.

RESULTS: According to endoscopic inspection, the tumor area ranged from 4 to 48 cm2 (median, 15 cm2). Positive G-CSFR immunoreactions (G-CSFR+) were observed in 85 specimens, and negative (G-CSFR-) in 41. No significant differences were found in age, gender, tumor invasion, lymph node status and tumor size between G-CSFR+ and G-CSFR- patients. G-CSFR expression was positively correlated with poor radiotherapy response (58.8% vs 75.6%, P = 0.014, r = 0.219). The proportion of well-differentiated tumors in G-CSFR+ and G-CSFR- patients was 24.7% and 36.6%, respectively. Sphincter preservation was observed in 57.6% of G-CSFR+ patients and 78.5% of G-CSFR- patients. Significant correlations were found between G-CSFR expression and tumor differentiation (24.7% vs 36.6%, P = 0.019, r = 0.210), as well as sphincter preservation (57.6% vs 78.5%, P = 0.044, r = 0.180).

CONCLUSION: The expression of G-CSFR before preoperative irradiation may predict the radiosensitivity of rectal cancer.

Keywords: Radiotherapy, Rectal cancer, Radiosensitivity, Predictive factor, Tumor

Core tip: It is unknown whether the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) can predict tumor response or sphincter preservation in patients with rectal cancer receiving preoperative radiotherapy. This study found that the expression of G-CSFR before preoperative irradiation may predict the radiosensitivity of rectal cancer.