Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer (May 2009)
Expression of Integrins and Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer:Correlation with Tumor Metastasis and Prognosis
Abstract
Background and objective As invasion and metastasis of cancer seriously threaten human's life, it is of more important clinical significance to understand and evaluate the biologic behavior of cancer correctly. Abnormal expression of integrin and ECM proteins play an important role in invasion and metastasis of cancer. The objective of this study is to analyze the expression of the integrin α5, β1 and ECM proteins in patients with NSCLC and its correlationwith lymph node (LN) metastasis as well as prognosis, and to evaluate its roles in the metastasis of tumor. Methods The expression of integrin α5, β1 and collagen type Ⅳ, fibronectin, tenascin was determined by immunohistochemistry. The relationship was analysized that between integrin α5, β1 and ECM proteins expression and clinico-pathologic parameters especially LN metastasis and prognosis. Results The expression of collagen type Ⅳ was negatively correlated with LN metastasis, and positively to prognosis of patients; The expression of integrin α5, β1 was positively correlated with LN metastasis, and integrin α5 was negatively to prognosis of patients. The expression of integrin α5 was positively correlated with the expression of integrin β1, and negatively with the expression of collagen type Ⅳ. The expressionof collagen type Ⅳ in stage Ⅰ disease P-TNM stage was remarkably higher than that in stage Ⅲ disease and poordifferentiated disease (P <0.001), but integrin α5, β1 was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅲ disease and poordifferentiated disease. Conclusion Increased expression of integrin α5, β1 and decreased expression of ECM significantly correlated with LN metastasis of NSCLC. Integrin α5 and collagen type Ⅳ are prognosic factors in patients with NSCLC.
