Impact of ERCC1 expression on treatment outcome in small-cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) protein is an extensively investigated molecular marker because it may decrease sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. Low ERCC1 expression has already been correlated with better treatment efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. However, the data on a prognostic and/or predictive value of ERCC1 in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) are still very limited.


METHODS
This retrospective pilot study evaluated the impact of ERCC1 expression levels on response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy and survival outcomes of 77 SCLC patients. ERCC1 protein expression was determined immunohistochemically in primary tumour tissue.


RESULTS
ERCC1 protein expression was positive in 40/77 (51.9%) of our patients. No significant association was found between ERCC1 protein expression and response rate to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, progression-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS), either in the overall population or in patients stratified by disease stage.


CONCLUSIONS
In our limited group of 77 SCLC patients, ERCC1 protein expression was not found to correlate with either response rate to platinum-based chemotherapy or survival outcomes. Multi-centric prospective trials using a validated method of ERCC1 determination are mandatory in order to obtain a definitive answer on the predictive value of ERCC1 in SCLC.
eva.sodja@klinika-golnik.si
Eva
E
Sodja
Lea
L
Knez
Izidor
I
Kern
Tanja
T
Ovčariček
Aleksander
A
Sadikov
Tanja
T
Cufer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004260:DNA Repair; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015251:Epirubicin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D019772:Topotecan; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases; D002945:Cisplatin