title: Expression of RUNX3 protein in human lung adenocarcinoma: implications for tumor progression and prognosis.
abstract: Runt-related transcription factor 3 belongs to the runt domain family of transcription factors that play a pivotal role during normal tissue development and tumorigenesis in several organs. We directed our attention to the expression of RUNX3 protein in human lung AC and non-neoplastic lung tissues, comparing the results with clinicopathological profiles. We evaluated the expression of RUNX3 protein in 17 pairs of lung AC and non-neoplastic lung tissue. Furthermore, 98 lung AC were studied to examine the frequency of RUNX3-positive cells. Western blot analysis showed a single band at 45 kDa in all 17 AC and non-neoplastic tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed immunoreactivity in alveolar type II pneumocytes or Clara cells. RUNX3 was expressed more frequently in the carcinomas with a BAC component than in those without (P < 0.01). Lower RUNX3 levels were associated with poorly differentiated types (P = 0.049). The five-year survival rate was significantly higher in the 50 patients with higher levels of RUNX3 expression than in the 48 patients with lower levels (P = 0.027). The expression of RUNX3 protein in lung AC might play a pivotal role in tumor progression and patients' survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organ Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagahama
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shigetsugu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohgi
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015153:Blotting, Western; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C493729:Runx3 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors