title: Association of FOXP3 expression with non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung cancer is rarely cured by current therapeutic approaches. Although numerous studies have implicated FOXP3 positive regulatory T-cells in cancer pathogenesis, the role of FOXP3 in lung cancer pathogenesis remains unkown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using immunohistochemistry FOXP3 expression was determined in 44 NSCLC tissue specimens, 20 samples from adjacent non neoplastic lung parenchyma and 5 normal lung tissue specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FOXP3 immunostaining was always nuclear in both tumor and non-neoplastic adjacent tissues. FOXP3 was also detected at lower levels in normal bronchial epithelium. Moreover, FOXP3 expression in cancer cells correlated with lymphocytic FOXP3-immunopositivity and the presence of lymph node metastasis. FOXP3 lymphocytic expression was also negatively associated with the age of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOXP3 is overexpressed in NSCLC cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This study provides evidence that lymphocytic FOXP3 expression may be age related and that tumor FOXP3 expression is correlated with lymph node metastasis.
authors: Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
authors: Fotinos-Ioannis D
authors: FI
authors: Dimitrakopoulos
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Papadaki
authors: Anna G
authors: AG
authors: Antonacopoulou
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Kottorou
authors: Andreas D
authors: AD
authors: Gotsis
authors: Chrisoula
authors: C
authors: Scopa
authors: Haralabos P
authors: HP
authors: Kalofonos
authors: Athanasia
authors: A
authors: Mouzaki