[Expression and clinical significance of MAPK in non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of p38,ERK1 (extracellular signal regulated kinases1) and JNK1 (c-jun NH2-terminal kinases1), subtribes of MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinases), and their clinical implication in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of p38, ERK1, JNK1, and ras in the resected specimens of non-small cell lung cancer from 73 patients. The relation between p38, ERK1, and JNK1 and clinicopathological factors were analyzed by Mann-Whitney u test, chi(2) test, and Fisher precise probability method. The relations between ras and various subtribes of MAPK were analyzed by chi(2) test; the post-operative clinical effects were detected by Kaplan-Meier curve.


RESULTS
Expression of p38 was related with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.000) and TNM staging (P = 0.001). Expression of ERK1 was correlated with pathological type (P = 0.015), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.000) and TNM staging (P = 0.000). Expression of JNK1 was related with the tumor location (P = 0.005). ras expression was correlated with p38 (P = 0.003) and ERK1 (P = 0.012). Univariate analysis showed that TNM staging (P = 0.0000), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0000), tumor differentiation (P = 0.0000), p38 (P = 0.0001), JNK1 (P = 0.0232), and ras (P = 0.0022) were of prognostic significance. Multivariable analysis showed that NSCLC patients with negative expression of p38 (P = 0.035), clinical I stage (P = 0.026), negative lymph node metastasis (P = 0.044) and fine tumor differentiation (P = 0.020) might have a better prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the subtribes of MAPK, p38 may be of use to assess lymph node metastasis and TNM staging, ERK1 may be of use to evaluate histological type, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging, and JNK1 to assess the tumor location. ras may increase the expression of p38 and ERK1. p38, as well as some clinicpathological factors, including TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation are prognostic factors of NSCLC.
Zhang
Zhen-fa
ZF
Department of Chest Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Ma
Jian-qun
JQ
Zhang
Lin
L
D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases