Frequency of loss of heterozygosity at 3 p, 9 p, 13 q, and 17 p is related to proliferative activity in smokers with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Tumor cells of lung cancer exhibit genetic abnormalities as well as high proliferative activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of genetic abnormalities and smoking status, histological type, and tumor proliferative activity in resected samples of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
We evaluated 126 samples of stage I NSCLC from patients who underwent complete resection between 1988 and 1993. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was assessed using primers that amplified polymorphic microsatellite markers at D3S1300, D3S643, D3S1317, D9S171, IFNA, D13S153, and TP53. Expression of Ki-67 nuclear antigen was examined using immunohistochemical methods to assess tumor proliferative activity.


RESULTS
The Fractional Regional Loss index (FRL) was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma samples than in adenocarcinoma samples (p < 0.0001). In smokers, Ki-67 labeling index (LI) in high-FRL cases was significantly higher than in low-FRL cases (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of LOH at 3 p, 9 p, 13 q, and 17 p was related to proliferative activity in smokers with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.
Haga
Y
Y
Department of Basic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Hiroshima
K
K
Iyoda
A
A
Kohno
H
H
Shibuya
K
K
Iizasa
T
T
Fujisawa
T
T
Ohwada
H
H
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics*; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 / Q000235:genetics; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 / Q000235:genetics; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology*
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen