title: REG1A expression is an independent factor predictive of poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minamiya
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosono
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayose
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita City, 010-8543 Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D051847:Lithostathine; C497617:REG1A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger