Prognostic role of p53 in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
New biological factors have not been extensively studied in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to determine the role of p53 as a prognostic factor in such patients.


METHODS
p53 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and evaluated by three independent observers. The Cox model was used to assess the impact of clinical and biological factors on patient survival.


RESULTS
Between 01/1987 and 07/2002, 93 stage III NSCLC patients were included. Twenty-eight had a p53-positive tumour. There was no survival difference among patients with p53-positive and -negative tumours (p = 0.46). In multivariate analysis, 3 factors were statistically significantly associated with survival: surgical resection (p = 0.009), good performance status (p = 0.02) and low creatinine level (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Good performance status, surgical resection and low creatinine level were independent favourable prognostic factors for survival in stage III NSCLC, while p53 was not, even in univariate analysis.
Berghmans
Thierry
T
Department of Critical Care and Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Rue Heger-Bordet, 1, Brussels, Belgium. thierry.berghmans@bordet.be
Mascaux
Céline
C
Martin
Benoît
B
Ninane
Vincent
V
Sculier
Jean-Paul
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53