Expression of c-kit and p53 in non-small cell lung cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Increasing experimental evidence indicates that abnormal expression of c-kit may be implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of solid tumors. It has been reported that over 70% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) contain the c-kit receptor. In the present study, a c-kit analysis has been extended to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The expressions of p53, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cd34, in addition to c-kit, were evaluated to investigate the correlations between these proteins and to determine their potential relationships with the clinicopathological data.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tumor sections, obtained from 147 patients with NSCLC, were immunohistochemically investigated using anti-c-kit, anti-p53, anti-VEGF and anti-cd34 antibodies.


RESULTS
c-kit was expressed in 40 (27%) of the tumors examined: 27% of the adenocarcinomas, 27% of the squamous cell carcinomas and 29% of the undifferentiated carcinomas. p53 and VEG F immunoreactivities were present in 107 (73%) and 110 (75%) carcinomas, respectively. Anti-cd34 was negative in all samples. No associations were established among these proteins. The c-kit, however, showed a strong correlation with the T factor: T1 (n=11), 0%; T2 (n=49), 16% and T3 (n=87), 37% (p=.006).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that in NSCLC c-kit is expressed relatively frequently and may become a therapeutic target for the patients with inoperable or recurrent c-kit positive tumors. The alterations in p53 probably constitute an early event, whereas the activated c-kit may contribute to tumor progression.
Yoo
Jinyoung
J
Department of Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.
Kim
Chi Hong
CH
Song
So Hyang
SH
Shim
Byoung Yong
BY
Jeong
Youn Ju
YJ
Ahn
Meyung Im
MI
Kim
Sung Whan
SW
Cho
Deog Gon
DG
Jo
Min Seop
MS
Cho
Kyu Do
KD
Cho
Hong Joo
HJ
Kim
Hoon-Kyo
HK
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