Clinical relevance of Fas expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims: To determine the extent of Fas expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) from Chinese patients and to correlate Fas expression with clinicopathological prognostic parameters. Methods: Clinicopathological data were collected from 58 patients with ESCC who underwent oesophagectomy and had no prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Immunostaining was performed on the primary tumours. Expression of Fas was correlated with patients' demographics, tumour characteristics and stage, R category of surgery, and patients' survival. Results: The actuarial survival rates of all patients at two and five years after surgery were 48% and 14%, respectively. Fas expression was detected in 89.7% of ESCCs. Higher Fas expression recorded on a four point scale correlated with better tumour differentiation (p < 0.01), but not with other patient or tumour variables. Importantly, higher Fas expression was associated with better survival (p = 0.0317). Conclusions: These findings suggest that Fas activated apoptosis is important in the pathogenesis of ESCC. This molecular pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.