RESUMEN
Objective To examine human males absent on the first (hMOF) protein expression in patients with esophageal cancer and explore its correlation with radiotherapy prognosis.Methods Prior to radiotherapy,hMOF protein expression levels were examined using immunohistochemistry,in 13 pairs of esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent,non-tumorous,esophageal tissues,as well as in 90 esophageal cancer biopsy tissues.The hMOF protein expression level was classified into a high-expression group and a low-expression group,based on immunohistochemical staining scores.The correlation between these groups and radiotherapy prognosis was analyzed.Results Both esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent,non-tumorous,esophageal tissues displayed hMOF protein expression,although a significantly higher level of hMOF expression was found in esophageal cancer tissues (P ＜ 0.05).Survival analysis showed that hMOF protein expression and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors.The 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates of patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy were higher than the survival rates in patients receiving sequential chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone.The survival rate after radiotherapy was lower in the high hMOF expression group than in the low-expression group.Conclusion hMOF protein expression may be involved in the development and tumorigenesis of esophageal cancer.In patients with esophageal cancer,hMOF could be used as a new radiotherapy prognostic marker.