REG1A expression is an independent factor predictive of poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Regenerating gene I alpha (REG1A) is a known growth factor affecting pancreatic islet beta cells. Although REG1A expression also has been observed in various tumors, the correlation between REG1A expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patient prognosis has not been evaluated.


METHODS
We used real-time semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess REG1A mRNA expression in tumor samples from 86 NSCLC patients. We then correlated REG1A mRNA expression with known clinicopathological factors. We also used immunohistochemical staining to determine the source of REG1A.


RESULTS
Within samples of tumor tissue, the cytosol of tumor cells was stained with anti-REG1A antibody. Cells from normal tissue were not stained. The 5-year over-all survival rate among patients expressing lower levels of REG1A was significantly better than among those expressing higher levels of REG1A (P=0.0031 by log-rank test). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses revealed REG1A (hazard ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.25-5.90; P=0.0055) and pathological stage III (hazard ratio, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.52-14.82; P=0.0012) to be independent factors affecting the 5-year over-all survival rate.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of REG1A expression by tumor cells are an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC.
Minamiya
Yoshihiro
Y
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan. Electronic address: minamiya@med.akita-u.ac.jp.
Kawai
Hideki
H
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Saito
Hajime
H
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Ito
Manabu
M
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Hosono
Yukiko
Y
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Motoyama
Satoru
S
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Katayose
Yoshihisa
Y
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Takahashi
Naoko
N
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
Ogawa
Jun-Ichi
JI
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051847:Lithostathine / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
D051847:Lithostathine; C497617:REG1A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger