Prognostic Significance of Serum CD26 Concentration in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BackgroundEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers in developing countries. The aim of the study was to determine the association between serum CD26 concentration and outcome of patients with ESCC.MethodsA total of 183 patients with ESCC and 254 healthy controls were selected. Blood samples were obtained from the participants. The serum level of CD26 was detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. All patients were followed for 4 years unless they died of ESCC during the follow-up period.ResultsCompared with the controls, serum CD26 levels in the patients decreased at admission (p <0.001), recovered to normal 1 month after resection (p = 0.087), and declined again at the time of tumor relapse (p <0.001). During the follow-up period, 107 patients died of ESCC and 76 patients survived. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the low serum level of CD26 (<530 pg/mL) was associated with poor prognosis in the patients (OR: 5.42, 95% CI: 2.91–8.41). Survival analysis also suggested that the patients with high serum level of CD26 (≥530 pg/mL) had a survival advantage compared with the patients with low serum level of CD26 (<530 pg/mL) (p <0.001).ConclusionsSerum CD26 concentration might be an independent prognostic indicator in patients with ESCC. It might be also useful to detect recurrent tumor in postoperative patients.