title: Prognostic value of exhaled microsatellite alterations at 3p in NSCLC patients.
abstract: Our research group has recently been able to demonstrate and validate the possibility of studying of 3p microsatellite alterations (MAs) in the DNA extracted from the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of healthy smokers and of subjects with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In light of the interest that has recently been aroused in the novel molecular staging protocol of lung cancer, the evaluation of the prognostic power of the genetic alterations involved in lung cancerogenesis, including 3p microsatellite alterations could be of clinical interest.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome predictive power of exhaled 3p microsatellite alterations in lung cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one NSCLC patients were enrolled in the study. All the subjects under study had already undergone a 3p microsatellite analysis of their EBC. A total of 56 patients were either given a follow-up of at least 102 weeks, or were followed up until death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of 3p microsatellite alterations found in the exhaled breath condensate DNA exhibits a remarkable correlation with patients' survival. D3S2338 and D3S1289 account for the microsatellites with the highest positive prognostic power; loss of heterozygosis (LOH) D3S1289 has a negative prognostic value in adenocarcinoma while microsatellite instability (MI) and LOH D3S2338 influence survival in squamous cell carcinoma; and, independently of NSCLC stage, D3S1289 is associated with poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, 3p MAs in the DNA of exhaled breath condensate is strongly associated with NSCLC patients' survival. Our results suggest that it is possible to use the study of EBC MAs as an outcome predictor for lung cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Medical and Occupational Sciences, University of Foggia, Italy. ge.carpagnano@unifg.it
authors.forename: Giovanna E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spanevello
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: Grazia P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Palladino
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Digioia
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschino-Barbaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D045853:Exhalation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004247:DNA