title: Prognostic significance of β2-adrenergic receptor expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The β2-Adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) is associated with tumor growth and progression. However, the clinical significance of β2-AR expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred twenty-eight patients with surgically resected NSCLC were retrospectively investigated. Tumor sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for assessing β2-AR and Ki-67 expression and microvessel density (MVD), which was using CD34 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  β2-AR was positively expressed in 27% of all patients, in 29% of adenocarcinoma (AC) patients, and in 24% of non-AC patients. In AC patients, β2-AR expression was significantly correlated with lymphatic permeation (r=0.240;P<0.001), vascular invasion (r=0.239;P<0.001), and Ki-67 expression (r=0.175; P=0.009). However, this correlation was not observed in non-AC patients. Positive β2-AR expression was identified as a negative predictor for worse outcomes in AC patients, particularly in those with stage I tumors. Multivariate analysis confirmed that β2-AR expression was an independent factor for predicting poor progression-free survival in stage I AC patients (HR=2.220; 95% CI, 1.077-4.573;P=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β2-AR expression is an independent prognostic factor for early-stage AC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University HospitalJapan; Department of Thoracic and Visceral Organ Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of MedicineJapan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology Clinical, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaira
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University HospitalJapan; Department of Thoracic and Visceral Organ Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of MedicineJapan.
authors.forename: Kimihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trial Coordination Office, Shizuoka Cancer Center Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University HospitalJapan; Department of Thoracic and Visceral Organ Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of MedicineJapan.
authors.forename: Toshiteru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University HospitalJapan; Department of Thoracic and Visceral Organ Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of MedicineJapan.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsunari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University Hospital Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Integrative Center of General Surgery, Gunma University Hospital Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
keywords: Lung cancer; adenocarcinoma; immunohistochemistry; prognostic factor; stage I; β2-adrenergic receptor