[Prognostic factors of esophageal cancer]

A number of molecules involved in the process of invasion and metastasis of cancer cells have been demonstrated as a biological prognostic parameter. In esophageal cancer, overexpression of the oncogenes (c-erbB, int-2/hst-1/cyclin D1, MDM2), altered expression of suppressor genes (p 16, DCC), and abnormal expression of adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, alpha-catenin) has been reported as markers of high malignant potential. Proliferation markers (Ki-67, AgNORs, PCNA) and angiogenetic factors (intratumoral microvessel density, VEGF) are also related to the prognosis of the patients with various cancers including esophageal cancer. Prognostic significance of p53 is still controversial. In addition to the clinicopathological parameters, combination of these biological markers would be important to predict the clinical outcome of the cases and to establish an individualized strategy of the treatment of each case according to the biological behavior of the cancer cells.