Increased lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 expression is unrelated to prognosis of esophageal cancer patients

Introduction Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) has repeatedly been suggested to be associated with tumorigenesis. To evaluate the role of LPCAT1 in esophageal cancer, LPCAT1 immunostaining was analyzed on a tissue microarray containing samples from esophageal cancer patients. Results In benign esophageal tissue, LPCAT1 staining was detectable in low intensities. LPCAT1 staining was increased in malignant as compared to benign esophageal tissue and was found in high intensity in 26.4% of 288 interpretable esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) and in 23.2% of 211 squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs). Increased LPCAT1 staining was linked to undifferentiated tumor grading in both subtypes of EACs and ESCCs ( p = 0.0273 and p = 0.0085). Conclusion However, LPCAT1 was not associated with prognosis of EAC and ESCC patients ( p = 0.6838 and p = 0.4695) and thus cannot be considered a prognostic biomarker in esophageal cancers.