title: The effect of TTF-1 expression on ipsilateral mediastinal nodal (N2) metastases in primary adenocarcinoma of the lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression on ipsilateral mediastinal nodal (N2) metastases in primary adenocarcinoma of the lung.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients operated on with a diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the lung were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups according to their TTF-1 expression. The relationship between TTF-1 expression and N2 metastases was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 73 patients (58 male, 15 female) with a mean age of 58.4 ±10.2 in the study group. Sixty-six lobectomies or pneumonectomies and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and seven mediastinoscopies were performed. Positivity of the TTF-1 protein expression detected by the immunohistochemical staining of the specimens was present in 33 patients (45.2%); these patients were classified as group A and the rest of the patients as group B. Eleven patients had N2 disease in group A versus five patients in group B and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung having TTF-1 expression are more likely to have N2 disease. They might be considered as candidates for adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Research and Training Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Samancilar
authors.forename: Seyda Ors
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Kenan Can
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Ozan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Usluer
authors.forename: Ali Galip
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Yener
keywords: N2; adenocarcinoma; lung; thyroid transcription factor-1