Expression of Integrin beta1 in esophageal adenocarcinoma is associated with an increased tumor aggressive phenotype

Background The interaction of tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly coming into focus with regard to tumor progression and metastasis. Integrins physiologically mediate various functions between epithelial cells and the ECM as membranous receptors. For several tumor entities, expression of integrin beta1 (ITGB1) has been shown to be associated with higher tumor aggressiveness and increased metastasis. Data on expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its prognostic significance are not yet available.

Methods 685 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically for ITGAV. The data was correlated with clinical, pathological and molecular data (TP53, HER2/neu, c-MET, c-myc, GATA6, PIK3CA and KRAS).,

Results ITGB1 expression was present in 116 of 632 analyzable patients (19.9 %). ITGB1 expression was associated with shortened OS in the entire patients cohort with a median overall-survival of 31.6 months vs. 21.7 months in ITGB1 positive patients (P = 0.05). The difference in overall survival is primarily driven by the group of patients without neoadjuvant therapy. In cross-table analysis, ITGB1 expression is associated with presence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003). A correlation of ITB1 expression and molecular marker could be revealed for c-MET (P = 0.026).

Conclusion ITGB1 expression represents a more aggressive phenotype in esophageal adenocarcinoma which is reflected by the presence of more lymph node metastasis.

Abb. 1 Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for the entire patients' cohort

Publication History

Article published online:
07 September 2021