Cystathionine β-synthase expression correlates with tumor development and poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction

Objectives: To reveal the expression level of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) in adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) and discuss the relationship between CBS expression level and tumor microvascular density (MVD), clinical features and prognosis. Methods: Paraffin samples from 214 patients with AEG were selected to make pathological microchips. Immunohistochemistry was performed based on the microchips to detect the expression level of CBS and microvascular density (MVD) in cancer tissues and adjacent control tissues. Relationships between expression level of CBS and MVD, clinical characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results: In total, 214 AEG cases were classified into three groups: CBS negative staining (n=26), low staining (n=44), and high staining (n=144). Quantitative alterations in CBS and CD31 expression were explored using immunohistochemistry. The 5-year recurrence rate of enrolled patients was followed up and found that CBS expression was significantly increased in tumor tissue compared with adjacent non-tumor tissue (P<0.0001). There were significant differences in microvascular density between the groups with negative and high CBS staining (P<0.0001), and between the groups with low and high CBS staining (P<0.0001). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in tumor stage (P<0.0001), T stage (P=0.008), N stage (P=0.028), differentiation degree (P=0.037), and 5-year survival (P=0.0034) among the three groups. Multivariate logic regression analysis showed that increased CBS scores were associated with an increased probability of 5-year recurrence (P=0.018). Finally, different CBS expression levels were associated with disease-free survival in AEG patients. Conclusions: CBS expression level is closely related to microvascular density and tumor stage in AEG. High level of CBS not only accelerates tumor angiogenesis but also affects patient's survival and prognosis.