Immunohistochemical detection of P-glycoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in small cell lung cancer: with reference to predictability of response to chemotherapy.
In an attempt to elucidate the tumor properties relating to responsiveness to chemotherapy, we examined immunohistochemically the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors. Tumor specimens from 33 patients were obtained at the time of diagnosis and relapse. Four patients expressed P-gp in their initial tumors, and 7 others did in recurrent tumors. The overall response rate to chemotherapy of the initial tumors was 75% for P-gp-positive initial tumors and 86% for P-gp-negative tumors, whereas the disease-free and overall survival times were significantly shorter in the former than the latter. Three patients showed CEA in their initial tumors, and 5 others did in recurrent tumors. The patients with CEA-positive initial tumors tended to relapse earlier than those with CEA-negative tumors. In addition, recurrent tumors expressing CEA were resistant to salvage chemotherapy. A clear correlation between CEA expression by tumors and the CEA level in the serum was observed at diagnosis as well as at relapse. These findings indicate that P-gp and/or CEA expression by a tumor and elevated CEA level in the serum may predict refractoriness of the tumor to chemotherapy.
Segawa
Y
Y
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Ohnoshi
T
T
Hiraki
S
S
Ueoka
H
H
Kiura
K
K
Kamei
H
H
Tabata
M
M
Shibayama
T
T
Miyatake
K
K
Genba
K
K
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins