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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
TLR3 expression status predicts prognosis in patients with advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after
Yusuke Sato1, Satoru Motoyama1, Akiyuki Wakita1
1Dept. of Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
Background:
The relationship between Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not completely understood.
Methods:
RT-qPCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of TLR1-10 in 13 ESCC lines. We then used ESCC tissue microarray (TMA) to confirm expression of TLR3 protein in patients with ESCC.
Results:
All ESCC lines showed 10-60 times higher TLR3 mRNA expression than PBLs. High expression of TLR3 correlated with favorable 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) among patients with ESCC after esophagectomy (p < 0.01). Additionally, In the adjuvant chemotherapy group, TLR3 high patients had significantly better 5-year OS compared to TLR3 low patients (60.2%, 34.4%, respectively) but not in the surgery alone group.
Conclusion:
High TLR3 expression is an independent prognostic factor and has the potential to serve as a clinically useful marker of the need for adjuvant chemotherapy after esophagectomy in patients with advanced thoracic ESCC.
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