title: [Expression of Merlin protein in non-small cell lung carcinoma and the clinical significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the expression and clinical significance of Merlin protein in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of Merlin protein in 45 cases of NSCLC and adjacent tissue of NSCLC and normal lung tissue was checked by immunohistochemistry. The relation between the expression of Merlin protein and the multiple factors of pathological type, gender, P-TNM stage, differentiation and lymph node metastasis was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression rates of Merlin protein in NSCLC and normal lung tissue sections were 73.33% and 15.56%, respectively (P<0.05). The expression of Merlin protein was not associated with the pathological type, gender, P-TNM stage, differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Merlin protein might contribute to the initiation of metastasis of NSCLC.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors: Jianpeng
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Fenglei
authors: F
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016515:Genes, Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D025581:Neurofibromin 2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D025581:Neurofibromin 2