Increased Toll-like receptor 9 expression indicates adverse prognosis in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Kauppila J H, Takala H, Selander K S, Lehenkari P P, Saarnio J & Karttunen T J (2011) Histopathology59, 643–649 Increased Toll‐like receptor 9 expression indicates adverse prognosis in oesophageal adenocarcinoma Aims: Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR‐9) is a cellular DNA receptor that has been linked previously to invasion in various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate TLR‐9 expression and its possible association with prognosis in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods and results: Immunohistochemical TLR‐9 expression was graded in clinical specimens (n = 76) of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The TLR‐9 immunostaining intensity was compared with tumour grade, stage and indicators of proliferation, apoptosis and tumour vascular supply. High TLR‐9 expression correlated with advanced tumour stage, tumour unresectability, poor differentiation and high proliferation. Strong immunoreactivity of TLR‐9 also indicated poor overall survival. Conclusions: High TLR‐9 expression is associated with poor differentiation, a high proliferation rate and disseminated disease. Accordingly, increased TLR‐9 expression may contribute to the growth and metastatic properties of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.