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Human chorionic gonadotrophin beta expression in malignant Barrett’s oesophagus

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Abstract

Background

Human chorionic gonadotrophin beta (hCGβ) is expressed in several non-trophoblastic tumours, and this is usually associated with aggressive behaviour. Little is known about hCGβ expression in Barrett’s adenocarcinoma.

Materials and methods

We determined the hCGβ profile in a large series of surgically resected Barrett’s adenocarcinoma (a) at mRNA level using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis and (b) at protein level using immunohistochemistry with a polyclonal antibody and with a monoclonal antibody specific for free hCGβ. We then sought links between the hCGβ protein expression pattern and clinical and pathological parameters, including patient outcome as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

Results

hCGβ protein expression was observed in 43 of 76 (57%) Barrett’s adenocarcinomas. We showed a strong correlation between hCGβ protein abundance and CGB mRNA level. We observed a statistical link between hCGβ protein expression and infiltrative tumour type (P=0.023), perineural neoplastic invasion (P=0.007) and VEGF protein expression (P=0.016). hCGβ expression tended to be associated with a poor outcome (16% versus 36% survival 8 years after resection).

Conclusion

Expression of hCGβ correlates with specific infiltrative characteristics and is associated with higher VEGF expression. Both molecules may play a co-ordinated role in the development of Barrett’s adenocarcinomas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jean-Michel Bidart (Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif) for generously providing the monoclonal antibody directed against free hCGβ, clone FTB11. This work was supported by a Grant for Clinical Research (Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Beaujon, 92118, Clichy cedex, France

    Anne Couvelard, Sylvie Dubois & Claude Degott

  2. Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dupuytren, Limoges, France

    François Paraf

  3. Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire—UPRES EA 3618, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Paris V, Paris, France

    Dominique Vidaud & Michel Vidaud

  4. Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France

    Jean-François Fléjou

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  1. Anne Couvelard
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Correspondence to Anne Couvelard.

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Couvelard, A., Paraf, F., Vidaud, D. et al. Human chorionic gonadotrophin beta expression in malignant Barrett’s oesophagus. Virchows Arch 445, 279–284 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-004-1078-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-004-1078-1

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