BACKGROUNDTo study the expression of MGMT and its relationship with efficacy of chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSMGMT was detected in 128 NSCLC tissues and 10 normal pulmonary tissues by immunohistochemistry. According to the level of MGMT , 128 patients with NSCLC were divided into the group Mer- with negative MGMT expression and the group Mer+ with positive MGMT expression.

RESULTSMGMT positively expressed in 61 of 128 patients with NSCLC (47.66%), but none of normal group. No significant relationship was found among MGMT expression and TNM stages, lymph node metastasis and histological classification of the cancer. However, the mean survival periods and survival rates in group Mer- were significantly higher than those of group Mer+ (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). In 45 evaluable patients, total response rates were 42.86% and 4.17% in Mer- and Mer+ patients respectively (P < 0.001); and there were remarkably longer mean survival periods and higher survival rates in Mer- patients than those in Mer+ patients (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of MGMT may be helpful to predict efficacy of chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with NSCLC.