Pretherapy nuclear factor-κB status, chemoradiation resistance, and metastatic progression in esophageal carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) seems to be associated with aggressive clinical biology (chemoradiation resistance and metastatic progression) of esophageal cancer. We hypothesized that activated NF-κB would define clinical biology irrespective of the type of chemotherapy or sequence administered. Methods: Pretherapy and/or posttherapy cancer specimens were examined for activated NF-κB and correlated with pathologic response to chemoradiation, metastatic potential, overall survival, disease-free survival, and type of chemotherapy or sequence used. Findings: Eighty patients undergoing chemotherapy and concurrent radiation were studied. Activated NF-κB prior to any therapy was associated with the lack of complete pathologic response (pathCR, P = 0.006). Forty-five (78%) of 58 patients achieving