title: Cytoplasmic maspin expression is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma measuring <3 cm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maspin is known to be a tumour suppressor protein, and few studies focused upon its prognostic significance in patients with small-size lung adenocarcinoma have been reported; however, its clinical significance remains controversial. We explored the prognostic value of maspin with particular reference to its subcellular localization in patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma measuring <3 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on resected 110 specimens of lung adenocarcinoma measuring <3 cm. Maspin positivity was defined as strong expression in only the cytoplasm and was observed in 27 patients (24.5%). It correlated significantly with the presence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.009) and micropapillary component (P < 0.001). The patients were followed-up for 6-88 months (median: 71 months), and the maspin-positive group had shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) by log-rank test (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Using Cox's multivariate analysis, the status of maspin was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS (P = 0.004, P = 0.022, respectively), as well as lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytoplasmic maspin expression could be an independent poor prognostic indicator of patients with lung adenocarcinoma measuring <3 cm.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organ Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Tatsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Kanae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nosaka
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haruki
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umekita
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015843:Serpins
keywords: lung adenocarcinoma; maspin; micropapillary; prognosis