Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expression of FOXP3 in cancer cells and FOXP3positive lymphocyte invasion in the tumor stroma separately, and to evaluate their clinical values in predicting the prognosis of esophagus cancer of the neck. Methods Envision immunohistochemistry and doubleimmunostaining method were used to detect the expression of Foxp3 and FOXP3positive lymphocyte invasion in 42 specimens of esophagus cancer of the neck and 30 specimens adjacent to carcinoma. Results The positive rate of FOXP3 protein in parenchyma was 42.9% （18/42）in esophagus cancer of the neck and 6.67%（2/30）in tissues adjacent to carcinoma(χ2=10.324, P<0.01). The positive rate of FOXP3positive lymphocytes in mesenchyma was 38.1%（16/42）in cancer tissues and 13.33%（4/30）in tissues adjacent to carcinoma(χ2=15.376, P<0.01). In parenchyma of esophagus cancer of the neck, the expression of FOXP3 protein in the patients with lymph nodes metastasis was positively higher than the patients without(P<0.05). And, the expression in stage Ⅲ orⅣ was all positively higher than that in stages Ⅰor Ⅱ(P<0.05). In cancer’s mesenchyma, the expression rate of FOXP3positive lymphocytes in the patients with lymph node metastasis was positively higher than those without(P<0.05). Conclusion The abnormal expression of FOXP3 protein in cancer’s parenchyma and FOXP3positive lymphocytes infiltration in cancer’s mesenchyma may be closely related to metastasis of esophagus cancer of the neck. It could facilitate the immune escape of esophagus cancer of the neck. FOXP3 may be a potential marker to evaluate metastasis of esophagus cancer of the neck.

Key words: Esophagus cancer of the neck; Immune escape; FOXP3