Prognostic value of immunohistochemical expressions of p53, HER-2/neu, and bcl-2 in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.
The outcomes of patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) vary greatly, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 60%. This study evaluated a number of molecular markers that may aid in predicting prognosis in stage I NSCLC after surgical resection. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of p53, HER-2/neu, bcl-2 proteins was performed on paraffin-embedded sections from 85 stage I NSCLC patients who underwent surgery and were followed up for 32 to 44 (median, 39.0; mean, 37.1) months postoperatively. Differences in survival rates were evaluated by log rank test. The prevalence of p53, HER-2/neu, and bcl-2 expression in stage I NSCLC is 59%, 29%, and 46%, respectively. HER-2/neu expression is seen more frequently in adenocarcinomas, and bcl-2 is seen more frequently in squamous carcinomas. p53 and HER-2/neu expression in stage I NSCLC is associated with significantly short survival. Patients whose tumors were both p53 and HER-2/neu positive had the worst outcome, with a survival rate of only 20%, compared with 80% in those whose tumors were both p53 and HER-2/neu negative (P = .0003). The survival rates were 54% in patients who were p53 positive but HER-2/neu negative and 50% in those who were in p53 negative, HER-2/neu positive. The differences among these 4 groups were statistically significant (P =.001). Bcl-2 does not seem to be a prognostic factor for survival. Multivariate analysis showed that overexpression of p53 and HER-2/neu, presence of angiolymphatic invasion, and tumor size > 3.0 cm were independent factors predicting poor survival. p53 and HER-2/neu by IHC staining appear to be valuable prognostic markers in stage I NSCLC patients after surgery. The worst outcome was seen in patients who expressed both p53 and HER-2/neu, suggesting that these patients might benefit from additional adjuvant therapy.
Han
Helen
H
Department of Pathology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA.
Landreneau
Rodney J
RJ
Santucci
Tibetha S
TS
Tung
Ming Y
MY
Macherey
Robin S
RS
Shackney
Stanley E
SE
Sturgis
Charles D
CD
Raab
Stephen S
SS
Silverman
Jan F
JF
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53