Phase II study on dose escalating schedule of paclitaxel concurrent with radiotherapy in treating patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Analysis of tumor abnormal protein expression and epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The level of tumor abnormal protein (TAP) level has a significant impact on tumor growth, recurrence, and metastasis. Previous studies have highlighted the influence of the mutations in exons 19 and 21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), particularly the sensitivity displayed by tumor cells to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. Our study is centered on exploring the clinical relevance of TAP and EGFR mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, tissue samples were collected from a total of 176 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Real-time PCR technology was utilized to detect mutations within exons 19 and 21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in these samples. This approach enables precise identification of EGFR mutations associated with NSCLC. Furthermore, the study investigated the impact of various tumor markers, including tumor abnormal protein (TAP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), on EGFR mutation status. Established assays were employed to evaluate TAP and CEA levels, aiming to ascertain their potential correlation with EGFR mutation in NSCLC patients.

RESULTS

EGFR exhibited mutation rates of 23.86% and 12.50% in exons 19 and 21, respectively. EGFR mutations were more prevalent in younger women (< 60 years old) and in cases with pleural invasion, vessel invasion, CEA > 6.5 ng/mL, and TAP > 228 µm2 for both genders. Increased TAP levels independently predicted EGFR mutations (P = 0.001 for males; P = 0.000 for females). An area under the curve (AUC) of 0.833 indecated EGFR mutation prediction with sensitivity and specificity of 79.7% and 87.0%, respectively. For females, the sensitivity increased to 89.7% and specificity increased to 93.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

TAP effectively predicts EGFR mutations in NSCLC patients with moderate accuracy, particularly benefiting diagnosis in females with high sensitivity and specificity. Integrating TAP assessment into EGFR mutation testing can significantly enhance diagnostic precision, especially in female NSCLC cases.

The safety and clinical efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor injection for colon cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to evaluate safety and efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) injection and whether this regimen could reduce the incidence of adverse events caused by chemotherapy.

METHOD

A total of 100 patients with colon cancer who were treated with chemotherapy in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2014 were randomly divided into two groups, with 50 patients in each group. The patients in the treatment group received G-CSF 24 hours after chemotherapy for consecutive three days; the patients in the control group received the same dose of normal saline. Routine blood tests were performed 7 days and 14 days after chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the incidences of febrile neutropenia and leukocytopenia in the treatment group were significantly lower (p<0.05). In addition, the incidence of liver dysfunction in the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, without statistical significance. The incidence of myalgia in the treatment was higher than that of the control group without statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated that G-CSF injection after chemotherapy is safe and effective for preventing adverse events in colon cancer patients with chemotherapy.

A Clinical Study on Juheli (Recombinant Human Interleukin - 11) in the Second Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE

to investigate the effect and side effects of recombinant human interleukin - 11 (rhIL - 11, in Chinese Juheli, produced by Qi Lu Biotechnology CO., LTD) in the second prevention of chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia (CIT).

METHODS

Cancer patients with CIT were recruited and were treated with rhIL - 11 (treatment phase, TP), and in the following cycle, all these patients administered with rhIL - 11 24 hours immediately after chemotherapy (preventive treatment phase, PTP). Duration and severity of thrombocytopenia between two phases were compared.

RESULTS

for patients in TP or PTP, nadir values of platelet were (29.28±20.08)?109/L and (45.24±19.66)?109/L, duration of thrombocytopenia in TP and PTP was (11.52±4.33) and (8.20±+2.77)days, recovery time was (19.40±3.89)and (13.44±3.02)days, duration of rhIL - 11 administration was 10.68±2.46)and (6.28±1.77)days, number of patients needing platelet infusion was 16and4 respectively, all differences were statistically significant (p value were 0.007, 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.034 respectively). For TP and PTP, number of patients with hemorrhage was 8 and 4, duration of bleeding was (5.00±0.82) and (4.50 ± 0.71) days respectively, with no statistically significant difference. Adverse reactions mainly included fever, edema, arrhythmia, joint pain, fatigue, skin rash, headache, dizziness, etc., all were not statistically significant between TP and PTP.

CONCLUSION

rhIL - 11 could be well tolerated and is effective that could reduce the duration, severity of CIT, platelet transfusion, and incidence of bleeding, as well as shorten the recovery time, duration of rhIL - 11 administration. Thus, rhIL - 11 could be commended in the second prevention of CIT for patients with cancer.

Safety and Efficacy of a Mouth-Rinse with Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor in Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and effectiveness of a mouth-rinse with G-CSF (JiSaiXin, produced by NCPC Biotechnology Co., Ltd) in treating patients with chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIM).

METHOD

A consecutive cohort of patients with advanced cancers and CIM were treated with mouth-rinse G-CSF. All chemotherapy for patients with advanced cancers was adopted from regimens suggested by NCCN guidelines. The mouth-rinse with G-CSF at a dose of 150-300ug plus 100ml-500ml normal saline was started from the time of oral mucositis was confirmed and continuously used for at least 7 days as one course. After at least two courses of treatment, safety and efficacy were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 7 female and 7 male patients with advanced cancer and CIM recruited into this study, including 5 with colorectal, 2 with lung, 1 patient with gastric, 1 with cervical and 1 with pancreatic cancer, as well as 2 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphomas, 1 with nasopharyngeal and 1 with gastric cancer. The median age was 57 (41-79) years. Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 3/14 patients, and Grade 4 myelosuppression in 1/14. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 5/14 patients, and were Grade 1 to Grade 3. No treatment related death was documented. Regarding CIM, the median response time to mouth rinse of G-CSF was 2 (1-5) days, and all patients with CIM demonstrated a positive response.

CONCLUSIONS

Mouth-rinse with G-CSF proved to be safe and effective in treating patients with advanced cancers and CIM. However, further randomized controlled studies should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this treatment with other lesions.

Clinical comparative investigation of efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin plus gemcitabine or plus Abraxane as first-line chemotherapy for stage III/IV non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or Abraxane as first-line chemotherapy for stage III/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 200 patients with advanced NSCLC, which was confirmed by pathology or cytology, were enrolled into our research by reviewing previous complete and retrievable medical records data of our hospital. A total of 100 patients were treated with gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m², day 1 and day 8) in combination with cisplatin (75 mg/m², days 1-3; GP group) and another 100 patients were treated with Abraxane (260 mg/m², day 1) in combination with cisplatin (75 mg/m², days 1-3; TP group). Twenty-one days were required to complete one cycle; at least two cycles were completed by each group.

RESULTS

For the 100 patients in the GP group, the effective response rate (RR) was 27%, the disease control rate (DCR) was 63%, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 8 months. For the 100 patients in the TP group, the RR was 52%, the DCR was 75%, and the median PFS was 20 months. There was significant difference in RR (P<0.001), but no significant difference in DSR and PFS (P>0.05). Common treatment-related adverse events were hematologic toxicity and gastrointestinal reaction. Hematologic toxicity mainly included decreased white blood cells and platelets. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Gastrointestinal reaction mainly included nausea and vomiting. There was no statistical significance between them (P=0.805). For the 85 patients with squamous carcinoma in the TP group, the RR was 60%, the DCR was 78%, and the median PFS was 7.5 months. For the 85 patients with squamous carcinoma in the GP group, the RR was 36%, the DCR was 62%, and the median PFS was 18.5 months. There was significant difference in RR (P=0.024), but no significant difference in DSR and PFS (P>0.05). For the 115 patients with adenocarcinoma in the TP group, the RR was 47%, the DCR was 73%, and the median PFS was 8 months. For the 115 patients with adenocarcinoma in the GP group, the RR was 20%, the DCR was 64%, and the median PFS was 20.5 months. There was significant difference in RR (P=0.003), but no significant difference in DCR and PFS (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of cisplatin in combination with Abraxane is better than that with gemcitabine in the treatment of NSCLC, and the treatment has less risk of hematologic toxicity.

A Pooled Analysis on Crizotinib in Treating Chinese Patients with EML4-ALK Positive Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of crizotinib based regimens in treating Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of crizotinib based regimens on response and safety for Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated.

RESULTS

In crizotinib based regimens, 3 clinical studies which including 128 Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer and treated with crizotinib based regimen were considered eligible for inclusion. Pooled analysis suggested that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 59.3% (76/128) in crizotinib based regimens. ALT/AST mild visual disturbances, nausea, and vomiting were the main side effects. No treatment related death occurred in these crizotinib based treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

This pooled analysis suggests that crizotinib based regimens are associated with good response rate and accepted toxicities in treating Chinese patients with EML4-ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

Expression of TS, RRM1, ERCC1, TUBB3 and STMN1 Genes in Tissues of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and its Significance in Guiding Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

To explore the expression of TS, RRM, ERCC1, TUBB3 and STMN1 genes in the tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its significance in guiding the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect the expression of TS, RRM, ERCC1, TUBB3 and STMN1 genes in the tissues of NSCLC patients so as to analyze the relationship between the expression of each gene and the clinical characteristics and to guide the postoperative individualized chemotherapy according to the detection results of NSCLC patients.

RESULTS

Expression of TS gene was evidently higher in patients with adenocarcinoma than those with non-adenocarcinoma (P=0.013) and so was the expression of ERCC1 (P=0.003). The expression of TUBB3 gene was obviously higher in NSCLC patients in phases I/II and IV than those in phase III (P1=0.021; P2=0.004), and it was also markedly higher in patients without lymph node metastasis than those with (P=0.008). The expression of STMN1 gene was apparently higher in patients in phase I/II than those in phase IV (P=0.002). There was no significant difference between the rest gene expression and the clinical characteristics of NSCLC patients (P>0.05). Additionally, the disease- free survival (DFS) was significantly longer in patients receiving gene detections than those without (P=0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

The selection of chemotherapeutic protocols based singly on patients' clinical characteristics has certain blindness. However, the detection of tumor-susceptible genes can guide the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and prolong the DFS of NSCLC patients.

Organ-sparing Surgery in Treating Patients with Liposarcoma of the Spermatic Cord: Institutional Experience and Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord is rare and frequently misdiagnosed. The standard therapeutic approach has been radical inguinal orchiectomy with wide local resection of surrounding soft tissues. The current trend of organ preservation in the treatment of several cancers has started to evolve. Herein we present our testis-sparing surgery experience in the treatment of spermatic cord liposarcoma and a pooled analysis on this topic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical information from patient receiving organ-sparing surgery was described. Clinical studies evaluating this issue were identified by using a predefined search strategy, e.g., Pubmed database with no restriction on date of published papers. The literature search used the following terms: epidemiology , surgery , chemotherapy , radiotherapy , testis sparing surgery, spermatic cord sarcomas/ liposarcomas.

RESULTS

Patient received a complete excision of the lesion, preserving the spermatic cord and the testis. The final pathological report showed a well differentiated liposarcoma with negative surgical margins and no signs of local invasion. After 2-year of follow-up, there was no evidence of local recurrence. Since the first case reported in 1952, a total of about 200 well-documented spermatic cord liposarcoma cases have been published in English literature. Among these patients, only three instances were reported to have received an organ-sparing surgery in the treatment of spermatic cord liposarcoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical inguinal orchiectomy and resection of the tumor with a negative microscopic margin is the recommended treatment for liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. But for small, especially well-differentiated, lesions, testis-sparing surgery might be a good option if an adequate negative surgical margin is assured.

Irinotecan as a second-line chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer: a systemic analysis

PURPOSE

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy in treating patients with small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy for patients with small cell lung cancer were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) of treatment were calculated.

RESULTS

In irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy, 4 clinical studies which including 155 patients with small cell lung cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. In all chemotherapy consisted of irinotecan with or without nedaplatin. Pooled analysis suggested that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 27.1% (42/155) in irinotecan based regimens. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and myelosuppression were the main side effects. No grade III or IV renal or liver toxicity was observed. No treatment related death occurred with the irinotecan based treatments.

CONCLUSION

This systemic analysis suggests that irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy are associated with mild response rate and acceptable toxicity for patients with small cell lung cancer.

Clinical study on safety and efficacy of JiSaiXin (recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor injection manufactured in China) for Chinese undergoing chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To assess safety and efficacy of JiSaiXin (Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor Injection manufactured in China, G-CSF) 150ug per day for three days and whether this regimen could reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia caused by chemotherapy.

METHOD

From July 2014 to December 2014 patients treated by chemotherapy in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: Group A with prophylactic use of G-CSF (JiSaiXin) 24 hours after chemotherapy for consecutive 3 days; and Group B with G-CSF (JiSaiXin) after neutropenia. Routine blood tests were performed 7 days and 14 days after chemotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients fulfilled study criteria, and the incidence of severe neutropenia (grade III/IV) and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in Group A were lower than those in Group B. Nine patients were found severe neutropenia (grade III/IV) in Group B, but one in Group A, three febrile neutropenia in Group B, but 0 in Group A.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that prophylactic use of G-CSF (JiSaiXin) 150ug per day 24 hours after chemotherapy for consecutive 3 days is safe and could be effective for preventing febrile neutropenia in patients with chemotherapy.

Correlation between expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and adverse reactions after chemotherapy of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the correlation between expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and adverse reactions after chemotherapy of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

A total of 120 NSCLC patients who were treated in our hospital from August 2009 to September 2011 were selected as an observation group, and another 120 healthy subjects were selected as a control group. EGFR expressions in both groups were detected. The observation group was subjected to combination chemotherapy, and their shorter- and long-term prognostic outcomes, adverse reactions and mortality were recorded. Meanwhile, correlation analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The observation group had significantly higher percentage and positive rate in EGFR expression than those of the control group (P<0.05). With increasing stage and lymphatic metastasis, the positive expression rate of EGFR rose significantly (P<0.05). In the observation group, the response rate of treatment was 62.5%, and the incidence rate of adverse reactions after chemotherapy was 28.3% (34/120). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 38.3%, 15.0% and 10.0% respectively. Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis and positive EGFR expression were the main independent risk factors for post-chemotherapy adverse reactions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Advanced NSCLC was commonly accompanied by high EGFR expression. Although chemotherapy was able to improve the prognosis and survival rate, adverse reactions were also induced, being associated with the pathological characteristics and EGFR expressions of patients.

Clinical investigation of efficacy of albumin bound paclitaxel plus platinum compounds as first-line chemotherapy for stage III/IV squamous non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To observe the efficacy and toxicity of nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) plus platinum agent (cisplatin or carboplatin) as first line treatment for stage III/IV squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Forty chemotherapy naive patients with stage III/IV squamous NSCLC received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8, cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1, carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve of 5 (AUC=5) on day 1. One cycle of treatment was 3 weeks, and at least two were completed in each case.

RESULTS

Of the 40 patients who participated in the study, 25 achieved partial responses (PR), 12 reached a stage of stable disease (SD), and 3 suffered progressive disease (PD). The overall response rate (ORR) was 62.5% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 92.5%. Of the 20 patients without surgery or radiotherapy, 10 achieved PR, 7 reached a stage of SD, and 3 PD. The ORR was 50.0% and the DCR was 85.0%. The median progression-free survival time (PFS) of patients without surgery or radiotherapy was 5.0 months. Of the 20 patients receiving surgery or radiotherapy, 15 had PR and 5 p had SD, with an ORR of 75.0% and a DCR of 85.0%. Specifically, the DDP arm demonstrated a significantly higher ORR than the CBP arm (100%vs 54.5%, P<0.05). Common treatment related adverse events were myelosuppression, gastrointestinal response, baldness and neurotoxicity, most of which were grade 1 to 2.

CONCLUSION

Nab-paclitaxel plus platinum agent (cisplatin or carboplatin) is effective as a first-line chemotherapy for stage III/IV squamous NSCLC, and its adverse effects are tolerable.

Targeting cancer with sesterterpenoids: the new potential antitumor drugs

Cancer remains a major cause of death in the world to date. A variety of anticancer drugs have been used in clinical chemotherapy, acting on the particular oncogenic abnormalities that are responsible for malignant transformation and progression. Interestingly, some of these anticancer drugs are developed from natural sources such as plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Over the past decades, a family of naturally occuring molecules, namely sesterterpenoids, has been isolated from different organisms and they exhibit significant potential in the inhibition of tumor cells in vitro, while the molecular targets of these compounds and their functional mechanisms are still obscure. In this review, we summarize and discuss the functions of these sesterterpenoids in the inhibition of cancer cells. Moreover, we also highlight and discuss chemical structure–activity relationships of some compounds, demonstrating their pervasiveness and importance in cancer therapy.

Analysis of CEA expression and EGFR mutation status in non-small cell lung cancers

BACKGROUND

The serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level can reflect tumor growth, recurrence and metastasis. It has been reported that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in exons 19 and 21 may have an important relationship with tumor cell sensitivity to EGFR -TKI therapy. In this study, we investigated the clinical value of EGFR mutations and serum CEA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The presence of mutations in EGFR exons 19 and 21 in the tissue samples of 315 patients with NSCLC was detected with real-time fluorescent PCR technology, while the serum CEA level in cases who had not yet undergone surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy were assessed by electrochemical luminescence.

RESULTS

The mutation rates in EGFR exons 19 and 21 were 23.2% and 14.9%, respectively, with the two combined in 3.81%. Measured prior to the start of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted treatment, serum CEA levels were abnormally high in 54.3% of the patients. In those with a serum CEA level <5 ng/mL, the EGFR mutation rate was 18.8%, while with 5~19 ng/mL and ≥ 20 ng/mL, the rates were 36.4% and 62.5%. In addition, in the cohort of patients with the CEA level being 20~49 ng/mL, the EGFR mutation rate was 85.7%, while in those with the CEA level ≥ 50 ng/mL, the EGFR mutation rate was only 20.0%, approximately the same as in cases with the CEA level<5 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a positive correlation between serum CEA expression level and EGFR mutation status in NSCLC patients, namely the EGFR mutation-positive rate increases as the serum CEA expression level rises within a certain range (≥ 20 ng/mL, especially 20~49 ng/mL). If patient samples are not suitable for EGFR mutation testing, or cannot be obtained at all, testing serum CEA levels might be a simple and easy screening method. Hence, for the NSCLC patients with high serum CEA level (≥ 20 ng/mL, especially 20~49 ng/mL), it is worthy of attempting EGFR-TKI treatment, which may achieve better clinical efficacy and quality of life.

Anti-proliferation effects and molecular mechanisms of action of tetramethypyrazine on human SGC-7901 gastric carcinoma cells

AIM

To investigate the effects of tetramethypyrazine (TMP) on proliferation and apoptosis of the human gastric carcinoma cell line 7901 and its possible mechanism of action.

METHODS

The viability of TMP-treated 7901 cells was measured with a 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The distribution of cells in different phases of cell cycle after exposure of TMPs was analyzed with flow cytometry. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of TMP-mediated apoptosis, the expression of NF-xBp65, cyclinD1 and p16 in SGC-7901 cells was analyzed by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting.

RESULTS

TMP inhibited the proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line 7901 in dose and time dependent manners. Cell growth was suppressed by TMP at different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/ml), the inhibition rate is 0.46%, 4.36%, 14.8%, 76.1% (48h) and 15.5%, 18.5%, 41.2%, 89.8% (72h) respectively. When the concentration of TMPs was 2.0mg/ml, G1-phase arrest in the SGC-7901 cells was significant based on the data for cell cycle distribution. RT-PCR demonstrated that NF-xBp65 and cyclin D1 mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in 7901 cells treated with 2.0 mg/ml TMP for 72h (p<0.05), while the p16 mRNA level was up-regulated (p<0.05). The protein expression of NF-xBp65 and cyclin D1 decreased gradually with the increase in TMP concentration, compared with control cells (p<0.05), while expression of protein p16 was up-regulated (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

TMP exhibits significant anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on the human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901. NF-xBp65, cyclinD1 and p16 may also play important roles in the regulation mechanisms.

Correlation between expression of cell adhesion molecules CD₄₄ v6 and E-cadherin and lymphatic metastasis in non- small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between expressions of cell adhesion molecules CD44 v6 and E-cadherin (E-cad) and lymphatic metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty- seven tissue samples obtained from patients with primary NSCLC were collected in our hospital from Dec., 2007 to Dec., 2012, and the expressions of CD44 v6 and E-cad gene proteins in these samples were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

In the tissue without lymphatic metastasis, the positive expression rate of CD44 v6 was significantly lower, whereas the normal expression rate of E-cad was notably higher than that with lymphatic metastasis (55.6% vs. 78.4%, 47.2% vs. 21.6%), and both differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). Besides, CD44 v6 and E-cad expressions had a significant correlation in the NSCLC tissue with lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The positive expression of CD44 v6 and abnormal expression of E-cad may play a very important role in promoting lymphatic metastasis of NSCLC, with synergistic effect. Hence, detection of CD44 v6 and E-cad expressions is conductive to judging the lymphatic metastasis in NSCLC.