title: Prognostic significance of different biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to examine the prognostic significance of different biomarkers [DNA content, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-LI), p53 mutation and apoptosis], in 152 surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The ploidy was carried out by densitometry; PCNA-LI, p53 and apoptosis were determined with immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated to histology, stage and patient survival. A considerable variability of the PCNA indices, ranging from 0 to 33.5% with a mean value of 7.0%, was found. DNA evaluation showed a prevalence of aneuploid tumors (62%) with a DNA index >1. Overexpression of p53 protein and apoptotic positivity were observed in low percentages of cases (16% and 32% respectively). Only stage and PCNA-LI were found to be significant prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. PCNA was superior to stage in predicting shortened survival of patients with NSCLC. PCNA immunostaining can be applied on a routine basis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of NSCLC to predict patient prognosis and thus to identify patients in need of additional postoperative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lavezzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santambrogio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bellaviti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biondo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radice
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matturri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53