PTEN expression is associated with CRT response in OAC patients. (a) OE33, OE19 and SK-GT-4 cells were transfected with pre-miR-187 precursor molecules and exposed to 2 Gy irradiation. PTEN expression was analysed by qPCR and fold change expression calculated relative to the non-transfected control (NONT). Histogram represents an average of n = 3 experimental repeats. (b) OE33 cells were transfected with pre-miR-187 precursor molecules and tAKT/pAKT protein levels assessed by Western blot. Western blot and densitometry shown is representative of n = 3 repeats. (c) PTEN expression was assessed in the pre-treatment diagnostic biopsy specimens of OAC patients (n = 31) by qPCR. Patients were classified as neo-CRT responders (TRG 1 and 2, n = 15) and non-responders (TRG 4 and 5, n = 16). Error bars represent mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. CRT, chemoradiotherapy; OAC, oesophagealadenocarcinoma; SEM, standard error of the mean.