title: Prognostic role of liver X receptor-alpha in resected stage II and III non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the search of new therapeutical strategies against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the identification of new prognostic factors is crucial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we analyzed the prognostic value of the liver X receptor-alpha (LXR-alpha), a nuclear receptor of a family of cholesterol derivatives called oxysterols, in patients with radically resected NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 140 stage II and III surgically treated NSCLC patients that were grouped by percentage of LXR-alpha-positive cells value above or below its median value. Tumor-related survival was evaluated as primary end point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year overall and tumor-related survival rates were 40% and 46%, respectively. The median percentage of LXR-alpha-positive cells was 20%. Patients with stage II NSCLC had higher LXR-alpha values than those with stage III (P = .04). Univariate analysis demonstrated that both TNM stage and LXR-alpha were significantly related to tumor-related survival (P = .006 and P = .004, respectively). The 5-year tumor-related survival rates in stage II and III NSCLC were 56% and 34%, respectively. The 5-year tumor-related survival rates in high and low LXR-alpha value were 57% and 32%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that both TNM stage and LXR-alpha were independent prognostic factors (P = .01 and P = .007, respectively) with hazard ratio of 1.92 and 0.49, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LXR-alpha seems to be an independent prognostic factor indicating a better survival in completely resected stage II and III NSCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, and SC Chirurgia Toracica, Ospedale S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muriana
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandiera
authors.affiliation: Cancer Gene Therapy Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Cancer Gene Therapy Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.affiliation: Cancer Gene Therapy Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doglioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000071518:Liver X Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000071518:Liver X Receptors
keywords: liver X receptor-alpha; lung cancer; oxysterols; prognostic markers; surgery