The predictive value of neuroendocrine markers and p53 for response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: A minority of patients (30-40%) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have objective responses to chemotherapy. Therefore, defining molecular features that determine resistance or response to chemotherapy would have important implications in this disease. Several studies have suggested that patients whose tumors have neuroendocrine features may be more responsive to chemotherapy. In addition, increased expression of p53 may play a role in chemotherapy resistance in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: The objective of this study was to analyze retrospectively, the correlation between marker expression and response to chemotherapy and survival using immunohistochemistry for neuroendocrine markers and p53. Ninety patients with unresectable stage III or IV NSCLC, treated with platinum based combination chemotherapy were evaluated. The pathological specimens were obtained prior to chemotherapy. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant correlation between any individual marker and response to chemotherapy. However, patients with tumors with increased expression of p53 were more likely to have progressive disease following chemotherapy (P=0.02). Similarly, patients with tumors lacking neuroendocrine expression and with increased expression of p53 were more likely to have progressive disease when compared to patients with tumors with normal p53 expression and neuroendocrine differentiation (P=0.03). Normal expression of p53 along with the presence of neuroendocrine differentiation was a favorable factor for both survival (P=0.05) and time to disease progression (P=0.04) in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The presence of neuroendocrine markers alone was not predictive of response to chemotherapy and did not impact on the survival of this group of patients with advanced stage NSCLC. The normal expression of p53 together with neuroendocrine differentiation seems to impact favorably on overall survival time and time to disease progression without significant improvement in response to chemotherapy.     

神经内分泌分化与p53对非小细胞肺癌预后的影响

目的探讨神经内分泌(neuroendocrine,NE)分化标志物嗜铬蛋白A(CgA)、突触素(Syn)、神经内分泌颗粒和p53对非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung carcinoma,NSCLC)预后的影响。方法62例NSCLC进行含铂类方案新辅助化疗1~2个周期,然后手术治疗,以免疫组化法检测术后标本中NE分化标志物CgA、Syn及p53,以电镜观察标本中神经内分泌颗粒,随访3年,结果采用SPSS11.0统计软件,进行生存率分析。结果p53及NE分化标志物联合p53对非小细胞肺癌患者的无病生存期在统计学上均有显著性差异(P<0.05),NE( )p53(-)患者生存率较高。说明p53和NE分化联合p53与非小细胞肺癌患者的预后有关。结论神经内分泌分化和p53两者联合,用于非小细胞肺癌患者无进展生存期评价具有一定的临床价值。     

伴神经内分泌分化非小细胞肺癌中p53、bcl-2及c-myc的表达

目的 研究伴神经内分泌（neuroendocrine,NE)分化的非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）中p53、bcl-2和c-myc的特异性表达。方法 随机搜集60例手术切除的NSCLC石蜡标本，采用免疫组化S－P法检测神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、嗜铬颗粒蛋白A(CgA)、突触素（Syn)及p53,bcl-2,c-myc基因蛋白的表达。结果 NSCLC中NSE、CgA、Syn的阳性表达率分别为45．00％（27／60）、13．33％（8／60）、31．67％（19／60）。结合三者的表达确定伴有NE分化的占41．67％（25／60）；NE分化与肺癌的分化程度有密切关系（P＜0．05）；伴神经内分泌分化非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC－NE）的转移率较高，临床分期较高。NSCLC－NE中bcl-2、p53和c-myc的阳性表达率分别为68．00％（17／25）、80．00％（20／25）和68．00％（17／25），其中bcl-2,p53的表达与NE分化有密切关系（P＜0．05）。结论 NSCLC中有相当一部分伴有NE分化，NSCLC－NE具有与其它NSCLC不同的生物学特性。NSCLC－NE中可以检测到高表达的bcl-2蛋白、突变型p53蛋白，p53突变导致的bcl-2／Bax的失衡在NSCLC－NE的发生和发展中可能起重要作用。     

神经内分泌分化在非小细胞肺癌新辅助化疗疗效中的价值

背景与目的：非小细胞肺癌预后较差，近期研究发现非小细胞忡癌中有部分含有神经内分泌（Nemoendocrine，NE）颗粒，目前对含有NE颗粒的非小细胞肺癌的化疗疗效国内外尚有争议。本工作综合应用电镜、免疫组化和影像学分析研究非小细胞肺癌伴神经内分泌分化与化疗疗效的关系。方法：对62例NSCLC患者进行含铂类方案1～2个疗程的新辅助化疗，通过影像学判定化疗疗效。然后进行手术治疗，术后标本用光镜观察其组织病理学疗效、电镜观察NE颗粒、免疫组化法检测NE标记（CgA、Syn）。结果：本组病例NE标记阳性29例，阴性33例，阳性率为46．8％。在影像学上：NE分化阳性患者中有10例部分缓解（PR），19例为无效（NR）；阴性患者中有5例为PR，28例为无效（NR），但统计学上差异无显著性（P=0．069）。在组织病理学上：NE分化阳性患者中有21例组织学有效；阴性患者中有10例达到组织学有效，NE分化阳性的NSCLC患者化疗后病理组织学疗效较阴性者好（P=0．023）。结论：NSCLC中NE分化阳性的患者对化疗较敏感。     

Increased expression levels of p53 correlate with good response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

In order to determine whether expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) correlates with chemotherapeutic response, resected tumors from 18 patients with recurrent lung cancer who had undergone complete resection and received chemotherapy after the initial tumor recurrence were subjected to p53 immunostaining. Histological examination of the resected tumors revealed 11 adenocarcinomas, 6 squamous cell carcinomas and one adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Group 1 was 50% (n=9) p53-immunopositive. All patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy after recurrence. No patient in group 1 achieved response to chemotherapy whereas 2 and 3 in group 2 achieved complete and partial responses, respectively. The chemotherapy response rate of group 2 (56%) was significantly higher than that of group 1 (0%, p=0.009). The times to reoccurrence after tumor resection of group 2 was significantly better than that of group 1 (log-rank p=0.019, Wilcoxon p=0.042), and survival after chemotherapy of group 2 was also significantly better than that of group 1 (log-rank p=0.023, Wilcoxon p=0.034). It is suggested that high p53 expression levels in tumors correlate with both good response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and good survival of patients with advanced NSCLC.     

Patterns of EGFR, HER2, TP53, and KRAS mutations of p14arf expression in non-small cell lung cancers in relation to smoking history

Mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR are common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of never smokers, whereas HER2 mutations are rare. We have analyzed EGFR and HER2 mutations and the expression of the two products of the CDKN2A gene (p14(arf) and p16(INK4a)) in 116 NSCLC that have been previously analyzed for TP53 and KRAS mutations in relation to smoking history of patients. EGFR mutations were detected in 20 of 116 (17%) tumors, whereas five (4.3%) tumors contained HER2 mutations. No tumor contained both mutations. Of tumors with EGFR or HER2 mutation, 72% were adenocarcinomas, 68% were from never smokers, and 32% were from former smokers. EGFR but not HER2 mutations were mutually exclusive with KRAS mutation. Among never smokers, 11 of 16 tumors with EGFR mutation also had TP53 mutation, in contrast with two of 17 tumors without EGFR mutation (P = 0.0008). Expression of p14(arf), but not p16(ink4a), was more frequently down-regulated in never smokers (62.5%) than ever smokers (35%; P = 0.008). All tumors with EGFR or HER2 mutations and wild-type TP53 showed down-regulation of p14(arf) expression. These observations suggest that functional inactivation of the p14(arf)/p53 connection is required in tumors with EGFR or HER2 mutations, consistent with the notion that these proteins are part of a fail-safe mechanism protecting cells against untimely or excessive mitotic signals.     

EGFR HER2和HER3表达水平与IRESSA治疗晚期NSCLC疗效和预后的关系

目的：探讨EGFR（HER1）、HER2和HER3的表达水平与IRESSA（易瑞莎）治疗NSCLC的疗效和预后的关系。方法：2002年5月至2005年2月，符合入组条件的患者，口服IRESSA治疗．直到疾病进展或出现不可耐受的毒副反应．采用免疫组化法，评价入组前肿瘤组织中EGFR、HER2和HER3的表达情况结果：90例患者的EGFR、HER2和HER3的阳性率分别为16．7％、43.3％和21．1％总有效率为24．4％（22／90）EGFR和HER3的表达都与IRESSA的疗效无关。但HER2阳性患者的有效率显著高于阴性患者（35．9％、15．7％．P=0．027）HER2和HER3都高表达患者的有效率显著高于其余患者（53．8％、22．1％，P=0．036）.患者的中位总TFP为4．0个月，中位总OS为11．5个月，一年生存率为49％。EGFR、HER2和HER3单独表达情况对TTP、OS无影响分层分析发现．EGFR、HER2和HER3共表达情况对TTP和OS都没有影响。结论：EGFR的表达与疗效无关．对TTP和OS无影响HER2和HER3都高表达患者对IRESSA的敏感性增高，不受EGFR表达情况的干预.     

Effect of HER2/neu expression on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer

Major prognostic factors for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are tumor size and nodal status. It has been suggested that HER2/neu overexpression may be related to poor prognosis in NSCLC. We evaluated the significance of HER2/neu overexpression on survival in patients with NSCLC. Data were collected on 239 patients treated surgically for stage I/II NSCLC between 1987 and 1996. None of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples were stained with p185/HER2 receptor antibody. Results were reported as positive (2+, 3+) or negative (0, 1+) (Group A). A separate analysis considered only 3+ as positive (Group B). HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 18% in Group A (43 of 239) and 6% in Group B (15 of 239). HER2/neu overexpression was highest in bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. More stage I tumors were positive than stage II in both groups, but this was significant only in Group A (21% vs. 7%, P = 0.02). No difference was seen with age, gender, or grade for either group. In Group A, the relapse rate was 55% for HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors and 31% for HER2/neu-negative tumors (P = 0.003). Median time to relapse in patients with HER2/neu-positive tumors was 2.9 years; it was not reached in patients with HER2/neu-negative tumors. Median survival of patients with HER2/neu-positive tumors was 3.6 years compared to 5 years in patients with HER2/neu-negative tumors (P = 0.66). In Group B, the relapse rate was 60% for HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors and 33% for negative tumors (P = 0.036). Median time to relapse was 3.4 years in HER2/neu positive and had not been reached in negative tumors. There was no difference in 5-year survival rates for both groups (47% for HER2/neu positive and 50% for negative, P = 0.66).     

The interactive effect of Ras, HER2, P53 and Bcl-2 expression in predicting the survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients

In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), tumor expression of P21-Ras, HER2, P53, and Bcl-2 has been reported as independent predictors of prognosis. However, the prognostic information carried by these proteins has usually been determined separately, and their potential interaction has not been taken into account. We conducted immunostaining for P21-Ras, HER2, P53 and Bcl-2 on 238 cases of NSCLC in a Korean population with 203 squamous cell carcinomas, and 35 adenocarcinomas. P21-Ras, HER2, P53 or Bcl-2 was expressed at high levels in 54.6, 42.0, 18.1 and 71.8% of the NSCLC studied, respectively. A total of 59 tumors (24.8%) expressed only one protein, while 70 (29.4%) expressed two, 59 (24.8) expressed three, and 17 tumors (7.1%) expressed all four proteins. Univariate analysis testing the association of marker expression with survival found Bcl-2 expression to be significantly associated with a poor prognosis, as well as the co-expression of Bcl-2 + HER2, Bcl-2 + HER2 + P53, and Bcl-2 + HER2 + P53 + P21-ras with an increasing hazard ratio. By multivariate analysis controlling for age, tumor stage and tumor type, only the combination of Bcl-2 + HER2 expression was an independent marker of poor prognosis (hazard ratio = 1.91, P = 0.003). Thus, a prospective analysis of the co-expression of Bcl-2 + HER2 in NSCLC patients may identify patients with a poor prognosis who may benefit from more aggressive therapy.     

A study of the value of p53, HER2, and Bcl-2 in the prediction of response to doxorubicin and paclitaxel as single agents in metastatic breast cancer: a companion study to EORTC 10923

This study assesses the potential value of the tumor markers p53, HER2, and Bcl-2 in predicting the clinical response to doxorubicin and paclitaxel as single agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The primary tumors of 114 patients in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 10923 trial were assessed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies; the results were correlated with clinical response to therapy. HER2 was positive in 24% of patients, p53 was positive in 25% of patients, and Bcl-2 was positive in 49% of patients. There was no correlation between the expression of any of the markers and the clinical response to either agent. Although methodologically limited, this study does not support the use of p53, HER2, or Bcl-2 to assist the selection of anthracycline versus taxane in metastatic breast cancer.     

Predictive effect of p53 and p21 alteration on chemotherapy response and survival in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND: Cell cycle regulating proteins (p53/p21) and proliferation index Ki-67 have been associated with prognosis and response to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of these molecular markers on tumor response and prognostic effect in a group of esophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of p53/p21 and Ki-67 was examined in pre-treatment biopsy specimen of 30 patients, in phase II neoadjuvant studies for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, who underwent surgery. Seven patients (23%) had progressive disease. Resection was achieved in all responders (n=23; 77%) and histochemical expression of the above-mentioned proliferating markers was examined in pre-treatment and resection specimens after chemotherapy. RESULTS: Responders had a significantly better survival compared to non-responders (p=0.001). Expression of p53, p21 and high Ki-67 in pre-treatment specimens was 73% (22/30), 63% (19/30) and 30% (10/30), respectively and was not related to response to chemotherapy. However, alteration in expression of p53-positivity in the pre-treatment specimens to p53-negativity in the resection specimens and p21-negativity to p21-positivity in 6 of the 23 (26%) resected tumors was correlated with better response and survival (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Data from this study showed that alteration of p53 and p21 expression rather than the initial expression seems to be related to chemotherapy response and overall survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma.     

p53, HER2 and tumor cell apoptosis correlate with clinical outcome after neoadjuvant bevacizumab plus chemotherapy in breast cancer

Bevacizumab, an antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been incorporated into chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of several cancer types including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify tumor and angiogenic factors that potentially associate with outcome. In a pilot trial, 21 patients with inflammatory breast cancer and locally advanced breast cancer received bevacizumab plus doxorubicin-docetaxel chemotherapy before surgery. Baseline p53, HER2, tumor apoptosis, Ki67, estrogen receptor (ER), VEGF-A, serum VEGF (sVEGF), VEGFR2-Y951 and microvessel density (MVD) were prospectively designed and determined by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards analyses. With a median follow-up of 65.9 months, patients with low apoptosis or p53-negative tumors had significantly longer survival than those with high apoptosis or p53-positive tumors (median 61.5 vs. 20.2 months; HR 0.22; p=0.011 for apoptosis and median 59.6 vs. 24.2 months; HR 0.27; p=0.016 for p53). Low Ki67 versus high Ki67 exhibited a trend towards association with survival (median 57.1 vs. 17.3 months, HR 0.34, p=0.07). Patients with HER2-negative tumors had significantly longer PFS than those with HER2-positive tumors (median 31.2 vs. 9.4 months; HR 0.23; p=0.03). ER, VEGF-A, sVEGF, VEGFR2-Y951 and MVD were not significantly associated with outcome. Our data suggest that baseline p53, apoptosis and HER2 are each significantly associated with outcome in patients who received bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor, p53, Rb, Bcl-2 expression and response to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases microvascular permeability and stimulates endothelial cell growth. p53 Overexpression has been associated with resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients (pts) with NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of VEGF for chemotherapy response, its relationship with p53, Rb, Bcl-2 and hemoglobin levels and its impact on overall survival in pts with advanced NSCLC. Bronchial or fine-needle biopsy specimens from 85 pts with NSCLC obtained before chemotherapy were analyzed using an immunohistochemical method for VEGF, p53, Rb and Bcl-2. There were 73 males and 12 females with a median age of 62.6 years. The majority of pts (48%) had squamous cell histology. Ten pts had stage IIIA, 25 stage IIIB and 50 stage IV. Thirty six (43%) pts had positive immunostaining for VEGF, 37 (44%) had positive p53, 53 (62%) had negative Rb and 4 (5%) had positive Bcl-2. VEGF was negatively correlated with Rb (r(s) = 0.26; P = 0.015), positively with Bcl-2 (r(s) = 0.22; P = 0.42), whereas no statistically significant correlation with p53, age, stage and histological type was found. In a logistic regression model, adjusting for treatment, VEGF expression was not associated with chemotherapy response (odds ratio (OR) = 1.01; P = 0.085 ), unlike p53 positivity and Rb negativity ( OR = 4.0, P = 0.005; OR = 2.6, P = 0.016, respectively). A statistically significant higher VEGF expression was detected in the subgroups defined, using as cut-off value Hb median level (13.3g/dl) (chi-square = 5.00; ; one d.f.; P = 0.025). At a median follow-up time of 8.4 years, 2-year survival was 21%. After adjustment for stage and chemotherapy treatment, VEGF expression was not associated with a better overall survival (OR = 1.06; P = 0.80), unlike Bcl-2 positivity showed a statistically significant effect (OR = 0.28; p = 0.02). Our results suggest that VEGF is weakly correlated with regulators of apoptosis and has not been shown to be an independent predictive factor for resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and prognostic for survival.     

c-erbB-2 expression in small-cell lung cancer is associated with poor prognosis

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) carries a bad prognosis despite good initial response to chemotherapy. It is therefore important to identify molecular markers that influence survival as potential new therapeutic targets. In our study, expression of the tyrosine kinase c-erbB-2 (HER2/neu) receptor in tumor tissues of 107 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with primary SCLC was quantified using a monoclonal antibody directed against the c-terminal domain of c-erbB-2. A clear-cut positive expression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 13% of patients. Surprisingly, c-erbB-2 was an independent prognostic factor (RR = 2.16; p = 0.014) when a proportional-hazard model was adjusted to stage (limited vs. extensive disease) and performance status (WHO I-IV), the most relevant clinical parameters. Similarly, a significant association between c-erbB-2 and survival was obtained if a larger number of clinical parameters were included into the analysis, namely response to chemotherapy, TNM stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), gender and age (p = 0.033). Interestingly, c-erbB-2 expression was more relevant for patients with advanced tumors. In the subgroup of patients with bad performance status (WHO II-IV), median survival of patients with undetectable c-erbB-2 expression was 274 days compared with only 23 days for patients with clear-cut positive c-erbB-2 immunohistochemistry (p = 0.0031; log-rank test). Similar results were obtained for patients with extensive disease (p = 0.028) and high TNM stages (T>2 or N>1 or M1; p < 0.068, all comparisons). In contrast, c-erbB-2 expression was not associated with survival in patients with limited disease (p = 0.97), low TNM stages (p > 0.56, all comparisons) and good performance status (p = 0.97). In conclusion, c-erbB-2 is expressed in more than 10% of SCLC. Expression of c-erbB-2 is an independent prognostic factor of survival. The effect of c-erbB-2 expression seems to become more important in advanced stages of the disease. Since c-erbB-2 is a therapeutical target in other types of cancer, further studies to identify the role of c-erbB-2 in SCLC are clearly warranted.     

Predictive value of expression of P53, Bcl-2 and lung resistance-related protein for response to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancers

Chemoresistance is a major problem in the chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Several mechanisms are thought to be involved in drug resistance, including those associated with apoptosis, drug transport and detoxification. Here, we investigated the predictive value of P53, Bcl-2 and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) expression for response to platinum-based chemotherapy, using transbronchial biopsy (TBB) specimens from patients with NSCLC. We evaluated TBB specimens from 57 patients with NSCLC who had not previously been treated with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy before TBB, and who were treated with systemic platinum-based chemotherapy. The specimens included 33 adenocarcinomas, 22 squamous cell carcinomas and two large cell carcinomas. One to 6 courses of chemotherapy were administered. Expression of P53, Bcl-2 and LRP was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using TBB specimens. Positive expression of P53, Bcl-2 and LRP was observed in 28 (49%), 41 (71%) and 42 (73%) of the 57 NSCLCs, respectively. P53 expression correlated significantly with response to chemotherapy in nonsquamous cell carcinomas, including adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas (response rates, 38% and 6% for patients with P53-positive and P53-negative tumors, respectively, P =0.03). LRP expression significantly correlated inversely with response to chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinomas (response rates, 33% and 100% for patients with LRP-positive and LRP-negative tumors, respectively, P=0.02). Bcl-2 expression did not correlate with response to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that im-munostaining for P53 and LRP using TBB specimens may be useful for dividing patients with NSCLC into chemoresponsive and chemoresistant groups. (Cancer Sci 2003; 94: 394–399)     

Serial topoisomerase II expression in primary breast cancer and response to neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the value of topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo II) in predicting the clinical response to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancers and the potential changes in Topo II after chemotherapy. In parallel, HER2, which is commonly coexpressed with Topo II, and p53, a modulator of chemotherapy activity, were also analyzed. METHODS: Forty-one patients with primary breast cancer and treated with neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy (FAC or FEC) were included for the present study. Topo II, HER2 and p53 expression were measured by immunohistochemistry in pre and post chemotherapy (at the time of surgery), tumor specimens and the results were correlated with the clinical response. RESULTS: Topo II was overexpressed in 16 of 41 (31%) tumors before treatment, and this overexpression was significantly associated with clinical response (p = 0.03). HER2 and p53 were unrelated to response. Notably, Topo II overexpression, but not HER2 or p53, was lost in specimens after chemotherapy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The observed link between Topo II and the clinical response to neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy, together with its loss after chemotherapy, implies that Topo II deserves further testing in a prospective setting as a predictive marker.     

组织微阵列方法分析晚期非小细胞肺癌患者HER2蛋白表达及其临床意义

背景与目的 组织芯片技术可以高通量地分析标本蛋白。本研究的目的是分析非小细胞肺癌患者HER2蛋白的表达情况及其与化疗疗效和生存的关系。方法 将80例非小细胞肺癌患者的病理蜡块制成组织芯片，切片后使用免疫组织化学的方法分析HER2蛋白的表达。结果 80例患者中最终有74例可以进行免疫组化分析。全组HER2蛋白阳性率为31．1％（23／74）。其中，HER2蛋白阳性表达组化疗有效率为39．1％，阴性组为51．0％（P=0．345）。HER2蛋白阴性和阳性表达患者的生存时间差异没有统计学意义（P=0．437）。结论 使用组织微阵列方法联合免疫组织化学方法分析非小细胞肺癌患者HER2蛋白表达是可行的。HER2蛋白阳性表达组和阴性组之间生存时间差异没有统计学意义。HER2蛋白在非小细胞肺癌中的作用还有待进一步研究。     

肺癌神经内分泌分化与术后生存关系探讨

目的探讨非小细胞肺癌神经内分泌(NSCLC-NE)分化与患者手术后生存关系。方法收集1997年4月-1999年4月98例肺癌手术切除病理标本,采用免疫组化标记特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)及突触素(SY),并按强弱区分为“ 、 、 ”。对同一手术病例标本采用电镜观察特异性NE颗粒。术后病例随访36例,最长60月。采用Cox多因素风险模型分析NSCLC-NE分化与患者术后生存的关系。结果91例为非小细胞肺癌。非小细胞肺癌NE阳性表达率为63.7%(58/91),其中NSE阳性表达54例(59.3%),SY阳性表达22例(24.1%),电镜观察NE特异性颗粒30例(33.0%)。结合免疫组化和电镜观察NSCLC-NE分化44例(48.4%)。Cox模型多因素分析结果表明NSCLC-NE分化者术后生存时间明显缩短(P=0.048)。术后生存与肺癌细胞分化程度(P=0.006)、病理分期(P=0.001)、NE表达强弱(P=0.054)有密切关系。结论NSCLC-NE分化与肿瘤细胞分化和患者术后生存有关。采用NE标志特标记肿瘤,并观察其强弱改变,对术后评估具有较重要的参考意义,可作为临床判断患者预后指标之一。     

Apoptosis, proliferation and p53, cyclin D1, and retinoblastoma gene expression in relation to radiation response in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Purpose: To determine whether the apoptotic index, the Ki67 index, and the expression of the p53, cyclin D1, and retinoblastoma genes correlate with local control, overall survival, and time to distant metastases in invasive bladder cancer treated with external beam radiation.

Methods and Materials: Paraffin-embedded pretreatment biopsies from 83 patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were scored morphologically for apoptosis and immunohistochemically for Ki67, p53, cyclin D1, and retinoblastoma gene expression. Survival analysis methods were used to assess overall survival, local control, and freedom from distant metastases. A multiple proportional hazard (PH) regression analysis was performed to study the prognostic value of the abovementioned biologic parameters (all divided into two categories, except Ki67) in addition to classical prognostic factors such as T stage, histologic grade, multifocality of the tumor, and completeness of transurethral resection. All patients were treated with external beam radiation as sole treatment. Median follow-up for the 19 patients still living was 7.5 years.

Results: Apoptotic index varied from 0% to 3.4% with a mean of 0.8% and a median of 0.6%. Ki67 index varied from 0% to 60% with a mean of 14% and a median of 12%. P53 protein was detectable in 61% of the tumors. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was observed in 39% of the tumors and loss of retinoblastoma protein in 23% of the tumors. High Ki67 index was found to be significantly associated with p53 expression (p = 0.04) and cyclin D1 overexpression (p = 0.023). Cyclin D1 overexpression was found more often in Rb-positive tumors than in Rb-negative tumors (p = 0.006). Other associations between the markers are less clear. Biologic markers were not correlated with T stage or grade. In the PH analysis local control was found to be significantly better for tumors with wild-type p53 (p = 0.028). Also, tumors with an apoptotic index above the median value (0.6%) had a significantly better local control rate (p = 0.035). Ki67 index (p = 0.35), retinoblastoma gene expression (p = 0.30) and cyclin D1 overexpression (p = 0.61) were not found to have an additional predictive value regarding local tumor control. None of the tested biologic parameters were found to be associated with overall survival. Time to distant metastases was significantly shorter for tumors with high Ki67 index (p = 0.01) and tumors with an apoptotic index less than median (p = 0.009).

Conclusions: The results of our study provide evidence for a prognostic value of p53 expression and apoptotic index with respect to the radiation response in bladder cancer in addition to more conventional prognosticators. The value of these parameters as a predictive assay for radiation response warrants confirmation in larger and prospective studies.     

Neuroendocrine differentiation and clinical behaviour in non-small cell lung tumours.

The present study examines the relationship between neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation and the clinical behaviour of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Retrospective (n = 315) and prospective (n = 44) cohorts of non-small cell tumours were obtained from surgically treated cases of lung cancer, comprising 218 squamous cell carcinomas, 65 adenocarcinomas, 51 adenosquamous carcinomas, and 25 large cell undifferentiated carcinomas. Paraffin wax embedded and fresh frozen tissue sections were stained for the NE markers neurone specific enolase, creatine kinase-BB, bombesin, neurotensin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin and UJ-13A. The expression of two or more markers was observed in 30% of cases, and was taken to identify NE-NSCLC. A statistically significant correlation between nodal status and NE differentiation (P = 0.05), and disease stage and NE differentiation (P = 0.04) was observed. However, there was no correlation between NE differentiation and survival. These findings suggest that NE-NSCLC, analogous to SCLC is more highly metastatic than non-NE-NSCLC.