title: High expression of AGR2 in lung cancer is predictive of poor survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) is a protein disulfide isomerase-like protein widely expressed in many normal tissues as well as cancers. In our study, non-neoplastic bronchial epithelial cells as well as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells express AGR2 protein.
  
  
  METHODS
  AGR2 expression was analyzed on lung tissue microarrays. Tumor staining was correlated with clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On a lung cancer tissue microarray using immunohistochemistry, expression levels in cancer showed generally decreasing intensities in order from adenocarcinomas with mucinous components, other adenocarcinomas, squamous carcinomas, to large cell carcinomas. The study cohort was comprised of 400 cases. As a group, there was a slight trend of lower expression with increasing tumor grade. AGR2 expression level was a significant predictor of overall survival in younger patients only. Patients under 65 with lower levels showed a significantly better survival for both men and women. Patients over 65, in contrast, showed no such trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly all NSCLC tumors show AGR2 expression. Lung cancer expression of AGR2 has prognostic value for younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Vei
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Maresh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagryanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.|Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.|Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodglick
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. aliu@uw.edu.|Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. aliu@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Alvin Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009088:Mucoproteins; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C502296:AGR2 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009088:Mucoproteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011506:Proteins