Ferredoxin reductase is useful for predicting the effect of chemoradiation therapy on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Ferredoxin reductase (Fdxr) is the mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 NADPH reductase. Fdxr overexpression increases the sensitivity of tumor cells to apoptosis in response to chemotherapy through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The aim of the present study was to examine the Fdxr expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and determine if the expression is useful for predicting response to chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Materials and Methods: Fdxr expression in biopsy specimens from 50 patients before neoadjuvant CRT were immunohistochemically examined. Then, the correlation between Fdxr expression and response to CRT were analyzed. Results: Both clinically and histologically, significant correlations were found between positive Fdxr expression and favorable response to CRT. Furthermore, Fdxr was significantly correlated with postoperative outcomes and was found to be an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: Fdxr expression was found to be closely related to the effect of CRT and could predict the CRT outcome in patients with ESCC.