The role of microvascularization and growth/adhesion-regulatory lectins in the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer in stage II.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of growth/adhesion-regulatory lectins in the prognosis of the stage II non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) via quantitative lectinhistochemical examinations and measurement of microvascularization of the tumour.


METHODS
In 94 radically operated lung cancer patients, stage II NSCLC was confirmed histologically (T1N1: 6, T2N1: 66, T3N0: 22). Immunohistochemical methods were applied to investigate the galectin-1, galectin-3, CL-16 and hyaluronic-acid-binding capacities of the tumours, and also the expression of galectin-1, -3 and heparin binding lectin. Sections were examined with the aid of qualitative (stained/not-stained) and syntactic structure analysis. The microvessels were detected by staining with anti-factor VIII antibodies. The findings were compared with the survival data.


RESULTS
In the univariate survival examinations, the prognosis was poorer for the galectin-1 and -3-expressing tumours (p=0.014 and p=0.003) and in multivariate analysis for the galectin-3-expressing tumours (p=0.046, RR: 2.026). Correlations could be demonstrated between the survival and the distance between the tumour cell for the tumours binding galectin-3 (p=0.039, RR: 5.944) and expressing galectin-3 (p=0.041, RR: 3.335). An elevation of the volume fraction of microvessels was a sign of a poor prognosis (p=0.017, RR: 2.334), however the increase of surface fraction improves the survival (p=0.01, RR: 0.956).


CONCLUSIONS
In stage II NSCLC, galectin-3 expression is indicative of a poor prognosis. In tumour expressing and binding galectin-3, the distance between the tumour cells is of prognostic significance. An increase in the microvessel volume fraction points to a poorer survival rate.
Szöke
Tamas
T
Department of Surgery, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. szoketama@hotmail.com
Kayser
Klaus
K
Trojan
Imre
I
Kayser
Gian
G
Furak
Jozsef
J
Tiszlavicz
Laszlo
L
Baumhäkel
Jan-Dirk
JD
Gabius
Hans-Joachim
HJ
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000032:analysis; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis; D037161:Galectins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins