Prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib.
E-cadherin expression has been suggested to be related with response to EGFR-TK inhibitors. To evaluate the prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in lung cancer treated with gefitinib, we retrospectively reviewed patients with inoperable stage IIIb or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib and compared immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin on biopsied specimens. The association between gefitinib sensitivity and E-cadherin expression by Western blot and immunocytochemistry was also examined in 10 lung cancer cell lines. Of 52 eligible patients, 15 (28.8%) showed a partial response, and the disease control rate was 42.3%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in responders were 8 and 20 months, respectively. Response rates (RR), PFS, and disease control rates were higher in never-smokers and patients showing adenocarcinoma histology, and improved OS was observed in patients with adenocarcinoma. E-cadherin expression did not impact any parameters (RR, PFS, or OS). Although there was a tendency for cell lines with lower IC50 to have E-cadherin expression, H2009 cells were the least sensitive to gefitinib, with an IC50 of 30 microM, and H1650 cells had an intermediate sensitivity despite high E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin expression was not a useful indicator of response and survival after treatment with gefitinib.
Departmenst of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Hee
EH
Kook
Yeo Myeong
YM
Kim
Hyeon Tae
HT
Kim
Jae Soo
JS
Koh
Yun Jung
YJ
Choi
Jin Kyung
JK
Rho
Hye-Ryoun
HR
Kim
Cheol Hyeon
CH
Kim
Jae Cheol
JC
Lee
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015820:Cadherins; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib