Expression of Caspase-3 and c-myc in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Author:
Jin young YOO
1
;
Chi Hong KIM
;
So Hyang SONG
;
Byoung Yong SHIM
;
Youn Ju JEONG
;
Meyung Im AHN
;
Suji KIM
;
Deog Gon CHO
;
Min Seop JO
;
Kyu Do CHO
;
Hong Joo CHO
;
Seok Jin KANG
;
Hoon Kyo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea. sjkang@vincent.cuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Caspase-3;
c-myc;
Lung cancer
- MeSH:
Apoptosis;
Carcinogenesis;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung*;
Caspase 3*;
Cell Death;
Cysteine Proteases;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Lung;
Lung Neoplasms;
Mitosis;
Multivariate Analysis;
Prognosis;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment
2004;36(5):303-307
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease that plays an important role in the process of apoptotic cell death, but little has been studied clinically on caspase-3 in lung cancer. Increased c-myc expression can result in mitosis or apoptosis, and its contribution to the pathogenesis and prognosis of lung cancer has gained interest. In the present study, the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc, along with their possible correlations with prognostic variables, were analyzed in resected non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archival tumor tissues from 147 previously untreated NSCLC patients were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc proteins. Clinical information was obtained through the computerized retrospective database from the tumor registry. RESULTS: The expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc were detected in 60 (88/147) and 16% (24/147) of tumors, respectively. No association was found between caspase-3 and c-myc expressions. A multivariate analysis demonstrated the N status and pathologic stage to be significantly correlated with poor survival (p-value=.018 and .002, respectively), but positive expression of caspase-3 was associated with a good prognosis (p=.03). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest the involvement of caspase-3 in the tumorigenesis of NSCLC. It is also noteworthy that caspase-3 expression might be a favorable prognostic indicator in these tumors.
