title: [Expression of ezrin in human non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with metastasis and prognosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of ezrin protein in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and lung cancer cell lines, and the association between the expression of ezrin protein and the expression of E-cadherin and CD44V6 proteins.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of ezrin protein and mRNA in lung cancer cell lines was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 were detected by immunohistochemical SP staining in tumor tissues from 150 lung cancer cases and in adjacent normal lung tissues from 30 patients. Furthermore, the expression of ezrin in 30 freshly-taken NSCLC tissues was also detected by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of ezrin protein and mRNA was up-regulated in highly metastatic human lung cancer. The positive rate of ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 expression in the lung cancer was 61.3%, 54.0% and 58.7%, respectively. The up-regulation of ezrin expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, but not correlated with age, sex, tumor size, histological type, clinical TNM system and pathological grade. Western blot analysis showed that the level of ezrin in the NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than that in the normal tissues (t = 5.013, P < 0.01). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate of patients with negative ezrin expression was 29.3%, significantly higher than that of patients with positive ezrin expression (15.2%, χ(2) = 4.128, P = 0.042). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ezrin expression (RR = 3.012, P = 0.047) and lymph node metastasis (RR = 4.827, P = 0.035) were significantly independent prognostic factors for patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between the expressions of ezrin and E-cadherin in lung cancer, and a positive correlation between the expressions of ezrin and CD44V6 in lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 play an important role in the regulation of growth and meastasis of lung cancer. Combined detection of ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 expression is helpful in evaluating the metastasis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, the 117th Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou 310004, China. cqyong117@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Qing-yong
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Hui-zhen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fang-yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zhong-yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: De-min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Yu-quan
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099149:Ezrin; C112697:CD44v6 antigen; C513384:CDH1 protein, human