Combination of p53AIP1 and survivin expression is a powerful prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
p53AIP1 is a potential mediator of apoptosis depending on p53, which is mutated in many kinds of carcinoma. High survivin expression in non-small cell lung cancer is related with poor prognosis. To investigate the role of these genes in non-small cell lung cancer, we compared the relationship between p53AIP1 or survivin gene expression and the clinicopathological status of lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty-seven samples from non-small cell lung cancer patients were obtained between 1997 and 2003. For quantitative evaluation of RNA expression by PCR, we used Taqman PCR methods.


RESULTS
Although no correlation between p53AIP1 or survivin gene expression and clinicopathological factors was found, the relationship between survivin gene expression and nodal status was significant (p = 0.03). Overall survival in the p53AIP1-negative group was significantly worse than in the positive group (p = 0.04); however, although survivin expression was not a prognostic factor, the combination of p53AIP1 and survivin was a significant prognostic predictor (p = 0.04). In the multivariate cox proportional hazard model, the combination was an independent predictor of overall survival (p53AIP1 (+) survivin (+), HR 0.21, 95%CI = [0.01-1.66]; p53AIP1 (+) survivin (-), HR 0.01, 95%CI = [0.002-0.28]; p53AIP1 (-) survivin (-), HR 0.01, 95%CI = [0.002-3.1], against p53AIP1 (-) survivin (+), p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the combination of p53AIP1 and survivin gene expression may be a powerful tool to stratify subgroups with better or worse prognosis from the variable non-small cell lung cancer population.
Yamashita
Shin-ichi
S
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Hasama, Yufu, Oita, Japan. yamashi1@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Chujo
Masao
M
Miyawaki
Michiyo
M
Tokuishi
Keita
K
Anami
Kentaro
K
Yamamoto
Satoshi
S
Kawahara
Katsunobu
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C414742:P53AIP1 protein, human