Background and objective: uPA and ET-1 proteins have been reported to be up-regulated in some of human cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the alteration and clinical relevance of uPA and ET-1 protein levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: Expressions of uPA and ET-1 protein were detected in 155 cases of NSCLC with tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry (TMA-IHC) technique. The correlations between the alteration of the two proteins and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.
Results: Negative/weak, moderate and high expression of uPA were observed in 12.3%, 64.4% and 23.3% of squamous cell carcinomas, in 12.2%, 53.7% and 34.1% of adenocarcinomas, and in 12.3%, 58.7% and 29.0% of all cases. ET-1 presented negative/weak, moderate and high expression in 2.7%, 42.5% and 54.8% of squamous cell carcinomas, in 11.0%, 30.5% and 58.5% of adenocarcinomas, and in 7.1%, 36.1% and 56.8% of all cases. Simultaneously high expression of uPA and ET-1 were found in adenocarcinomas without lymph node metastasis (P=0.017). Adenocarcinoma patients with high expression of uPA or with high expression of both ET-1 and uPA had the longer survival time (P=0.007 and 0.016).
Conclusions: Detection of uPA and ET-1 protein levels might contribute to the prognosis evaluation of NSCLC.
背景与目的: 肺癌是世界第一大恶性肿瘤，其发病率及死亡率居高不下，本研究旨在探讨uPA和ET-1蛋白在非小细胞肺癌中的表达状况及其在临床诊断和预后判断方面的应用价值。
方法: 采用组织微阵列联合免疫组织化学染色技术，研究155例非小细胞肺癌中uPA和ET-1蛋白的表达情况，分析其与临床病理参数的相关性。
结果: uPA阴性/弱、中度和高表达在鳞癌中的比例分别为12.3%、64.4%、23.3%，在腺癌中分别为12.2%、53.7%、34.1%，在全部病例中分别为12.3%、58.7%、29.0%。ET-1在鳞癌中阴性/弱、中度和高表达分别为2.7%、42.5%、54.8%，在腺癌中分别为11.0%、30.5%、58.5%，在全部病例中分别为7.1%、36.1%、56.8%。uPA和ET-1同时高表达多见于无淋巴结转移的腺癌中（P=0.017）。uPA高表达或与ET-1同时高表达的腺癌患者具有较长的术后生存时间（P=0.007, P=0.016）。
结论: 检测uPA和ET-1蛋白表达水平变化可能有助于非小细胞肺癌的预后评估。