Discovery of prognostic and predictive tissue biomarkers in patients with resectable esophageal cancer.

45 Background: Patients with operable esophageal adenocarcinoma have a poor prognosis (median survival <2 years). We aimed to discover novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers to be validated as tools for patient selection for optimal neo-adjuvant therapy. Methods: Protein levels of XPF, MUS81, Cyclins A, B1, D1 and E, and Ki67 were assessed by retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of baseline tumor biopsy samples from 3 groups of patients with operable esophageal adenocarcinoma: surgery alone (N=54), 2 cycles of cisplatin-fluorouracil chemotherapy followed by surgery (N=46), and 2 cycles of oxaliplatin-fluorouracil chemotherapy (N=38). Expression of 48,803 genes was studied by Illumina HT-12 chip array followed by functional pathway analysis in oxaliplatin-treated patients before and after chemotherapy (N=38). Results were tested for association with pathological response (Mandard regression grading) (Chi-square test), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (Wilcoxon test). Results:...