Cyclin D1 overexpression as a prognostic factor in patients with esophageal carcinoma

Background and Objectives: Cyclin D1 is known to play important roles in the GUS check-point of the cell cycle. We investigated the correlation between cyclin D1 overexpression and clinical characteristics to clarify its significance in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: From 1991 to 1998, cyclin D1 was investigated in esophageal cancers from 86 patients who underwent esophagectomy. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was demonstrated using an immunohistochemical method. Results: Overexpression of cyclin D1 was found in 23 (26.7%) of 86 cases. Overexpression of cyclin D1 correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0083) and lymphatic vessel invasion (P = 0.018). Cyclin D1 overexpression may indicate resistance to chemotherapy. The patients with cyclin D1 overexpression had a significantly lower survival rate than those without overexpression (P = 0.013). The multivariate analysis revealed cyclin D1 overexpression to be an important prognostic factor in patients with esophageal cancer. Conclusions: Immunohistochemical examination of cyclin D1 expression may provide important prognostic information in univariate and multivariate analysis and may be necessary for determining therapeutic strategies for esophageal cancer. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.