Clinical implications of transforming growth factor-beta–induced gene-h3 protein expression in lung cancer

Abstract

Changjun He,1,* Dawei Sun,1,* Xue Bai,1 Yingbin Li,2 Hai Xu,1 Shidong Xu1 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of the Harbin Medical University, 2Department of Pain Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Aim: The clinical implications of transforming growth factor-beta–induced gene-h3 (beta-IGH3) protein expression in lung cancer remain unclear. This study investigated beta-IGH3 protein expression levels and biological function, as well as lung cancer prognosis.Methods: Beta-IGH3 protein expression levels were measured in 236 lung cancers and were matched with adjacent noncancerous tissues by immunohistochemical staining. Subsequently, the relationship between beta-IGH3 protein expression, clinical–pathological parameters, and lung cancer prognosis was evaluated.Results: Beta-IGH3 protein expression was significantly higher in lung cancer tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues (61.86% vs 22.88%; P=0.01). Of the 236 enrolled cases, 146 (61.86%) showed high beta-IGH3 levels. Tumor size, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis were significantly related to beta-IGH3 protein expression in univariate analysis (P=0.001, 0.044, and 0.029, respectively), whereas age, sex, and histological type were not (P=0.038, 0.756, and 0.889, respectively). Finally, a Cox regression model also identified beta-IGH3 as an independent prognostic factor (P=0.01).Conclusion: Beta-IGH3 is highly expressed in lung cancers and may be a potential target for lung cancer treatments. Keywords: lung cancer, beta-IGH3 protein, lymph node, metastasis, prognosis

Keywords

• lung cancer
• beta-IGH3 protein
• lymph node