title: Clinicopathologic implication of ezrin expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ezrin, a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family, is implicated in tumor progression, metastatic dissemination, and adverse outcomes, in several cancer types. In this study, we explored the clinicopathological significance of ezrin expression in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarray with 112 surgically resected NSCLC specimens, was performed to examine the ezrin expression. We also correlated ezrin expression with other clinicopathological features and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ezrin-positive group revealed significantly higher correlation with pleural invasion (p=0.016) and pathologic stage (p=0.050). Univariate survival analysis showed that ezrin-positive group had a significantly shorter cancer-specific survival than ezrin-negative group (p=0.016). Meanwhile, female (p=0.030), no pleural invasion (p=0.023), no lymphatic invasion (p=0.026), and early pathologic stage (p=0.008) significantly correlated with longer survival. Multivariate survival analysis showed that variables such as ezrin positivity (p=0.032), female (p=0.035), and early pathologic stage (p=0.001) were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezrin might be a molecular marker to predict poor prognosis of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eui Han
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee-Hye
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Oh
keywords: Carcinoma, non-small cell lung; Ezrin; Prognosis