title: Expression of Cyr61, CTGF, and WISP-1 correlates with clinical features of lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CCN family, comprising six members (Cyr61, CTGF, Nov, WISP-1, WISP-2, WISP-3), is involved in the stimulation of cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Several studies have shown that expression of Cyr61, CTGF, and WISP-1 affects the tumorigenic potential of lung cancer cells in vitro. However, the correlation of expression of CCN family proteins and clinical features of lung cancer remains unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present work, we quantified the mRNA levels of Cyr61, CTGF, and WISP-1 in samples from 60 primary lung cancers and their matched normal lung tissues by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Downregulation of the Cyr61 and CTGF genes and upregulation of the WISP-1 gene were found in primary lung cancers compared to the paired normal lung tissues. Immunohistochemistry analysis also disclosed a similar expression pattern of Cyr61, CTGF, and WISP-1 protein in paired lung cancer tissues. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between expression of either Cyr61 or CTGF with tumor stage, tumor histology, metastasis, smoking, and family history at diagnosis. A significant correlation also existed between WISP-1 expression with tumor histology, and patient age. Moreover, expression levels of Cyr61 and CTGF correlated with survival of the lung-cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Cyr61, CTGF, and WISP-1 might be implicated in the development and progression of primary lung cancers, and their levels might serve as valuable prognostic markers, as well as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, China.
authors.forename: Ping-Ping
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: De-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xiang-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: H Phillip
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Koeffler
authors.forename: Xiang-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins; C501848:CCN1 protein, human; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C116396:CCN4 protein, human; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor