BACKGROUNDTo study the expression of Skp2 and c-myc in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to investigate their relationship and clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression of Skp2 and c-myc was detected in 42 NSCLC, 10 pulmonary benign disease and 8 epithelial dysplasia tissues by immuno-histochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of Skp2 stain was 24.83%±13.64% in NSCLC tissues, which was significantly higher than that in pulmonary benign disease tissues (3.07%±1.32%)(P < 0.001) and that in dysplasia tissues (13.89%±3.95%)(P < 0.05). The expression level of Skp2 was closely related to cell differentiation (P < 0.001), TNM stages (P < 0.01) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but not to pathological type of NSCLC. There was a positive correlation between Skp2 and c-myc expression (r=0.448, P=0.003). The concurrent high expression rate of Skp2 and c-myc was 38.1% (16/42), which was closely rela- ted to TNM stage (P < 0.05), but not to cell differentiation, pathological type or lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of Skp2 may play important roles in carcinogenesis and development of NSCLC, and it may cooperate with c-myc protein.