YKL-40/c-met expression in rectal cancer biopsies predicts tumor regression following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: A multi-institutional study

Rebecca Senetta, Eleonora Duregon, Cristina Sonetto, Rossella Spadi, Massimiliano Mistrangelo, Patrizia Racca, Luigi Chiusa, Fernando H. Munoz, Umberto Ricardi, Alberto Arezzo, Adele Cassenti, Isabella Castellano, Mauro Papotti, Mario Morino, Mauro Risio, Paola Cassoni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgical resection is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer, although complete tumor pathological regression is achieved in only up to 30% of cases. A clinicopathological and molecular predictive stratification of patients with advanced rectal cancer is still lacking. Here, c-Met and YKL-40 have been studied as putative predictors of CRT response in rectal cancer, due to their reported involvement in chemoradioresistance in various solid tumors. Material and Methods: A multicentric study was designed to assess the role of c-Met and YKL-40 expression in predicting chemoradioresistance and to correlate clinical and pathological features with CRT response. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization for c-Met were performed on 81 rectal cancer biopsies from patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. All patients underwent standard (50.4 gy in 28 fractions + concurrent capecitabine 825 mg/m2) neoadjuvant CRT or the XELOXART protocol. CRT response was documented on surgical resection specimens and recorded as tumor regression grade (TRG) according to the Mandard criteria. Results: A significant correlation between c-Met and YKL-40 expression was observed (R = 0.43). The expressions of c-Met and YKL-40 were both significantly associated with a lack of complete response (86% and 87% of c-Met and YKL-40 positive cases, p<0.01 and p = 0.006, respectively). Thirty of the 32 biopsies co-expressing both markers had partial or absent tumor response (TRG 2-5), strengthening their positive predictive value (94%). The exclusive predictive role of YKL-40 and c-Met was confirmed using a multivariate analysis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007 for YKL-40 and c-Met, respectively). TRG was the sole morphological parameter associated with poor outcome. Conclusion: c-Met and YKL-40 expression is a reliable predictor of partial/absent response to neoadjuvant CRT in rectal cancer. Targeted therapy protocols could take advantage of prior evaluations of c-MET and YKL-40 expression levels to increase therapeutic efficacy.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0123759
JournalPLoS One
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 15 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Medicine(all)

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