title: Analysis of c-kit protein expression in small-cell lung carcinoma and its implication for prognosis.
abstract: Recently, therapies targeting signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of different tumors have been developed. Studies have shown that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI-571 (Gleevec) is used successfully against tumors expressing the c-kit oncogene, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). A recent in vitro study also demonstrated an antiproliferative effect of STI-571 on small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. To determine the expression of c-kit in SCLC, we retrospectively analyzed presence of c-kit by immunohistochemistry in biopsy samples from patients with SCLCs. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue samples from 30 SCLCs were stained with an antibody directed against c-kit (CD117) by immunohistochemistry. Thirty cases of SCLCs, including 17 males (age 44 to 89) and 13 females (age 21 to 85), were examined. Sixteen of 30 (53.3%) SCLCs showed c-kit expression. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with a log-rank test revealed that patients with c-kit expression had a tendency toward lower survival than c-kit-negative patients (median survival, 6 months versus 31 months, P =.062). Based on previously established anti-c-kit effects of STI-571 on SCLC cell lines and our findings, clinical trials may be considered for selected SCLC patients with c-kit expression. Furthermore, determination of c-kit in SCLC may have a prognostic value in SCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Mohtashim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahiya
authors.forename: Joseph I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Creech
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016610:Tissue Embedding
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit