Immunohistochemical expression of glutathione S-transferase-Pi can predict chemotherapy response in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Resistance to chemotherapy agents is a major problem in the treatment of patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Recent studies have indicated that glutathione S-transferase-Pi (GST-Pi) may play an important role in the resistance of cancer cells to alkylating agents, including cisplatin compounds.


METHODS
The expression of GST-Pi in tissues obtained by bronchoscopic biopsy from 38 NSCLC patients was investigated immunohistochemically. These patients were treated with a combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and were evaluated to determine the relationship between GST-Pi expression and chemotherapy response.


RESULTS
Of the 38 patients, 25 (66%) were GST-Pi-positive and 13 (34%) were negative. There was no significant correlation between GST-Pi expression and the clinicopathologic factors examined (age, sex, performance status, histology, differentiation grade, and stage). Of the 38 patients treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, 12 patients responded to chemotherapy (overall response rate, 32%). For the patients with negative GST-Pi expression, the response rate was 69% (9 of 13 patients). In the patients with positive GST-Pi expression, the response rate was 12% (3 of 25 patients). This difference was statistically significant (P=0.0012).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of GST-Pi in NSCLC patients was significantly related to response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and may be a useful predictor of chemotherapy response.
Bai
F
F
Research Instutute for Diseases of the Chest, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Nakanishi
Y
Y
Kawasaki
M
M
Takayama
K
K
Yatsunami
J
J
Pei
X H
XH
Tsuruta
N
N
Wakamatsu
K
K
Hara
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D002945:Cisplatin