OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of T lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1 (Tiam1) and the progression, metastasis, TNM stage, and histological types of lung carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of Tiam1 in 116 lung carcinoma specimens. The expression intensity (measured in positive unit, PU) of Tiam1 in these tissues was assessed quantitatively using Imagepro Plus image analysis software.

RESULTSThe PU of Tiam1 was significantly greater in primary lung carcinomas with lymph node metastases than in those without metastases (t=-2.089, P=0.039). Lung cancers of TNM stage II-IV had stronger expression than those of stage I (t=-2.272, P=0.025). The PU of Tiam1 differed significantly between different histological types of lung cancer, and squamouscell cell carcinoma had a lower PU than adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma (P<0.05). The intensity of Tiam1 expression was not associated with the patients' gender, age, general types, smoking history, pneumoconiosis or differentiation of lung carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONThese results strongly suggest that Tiam1 is an invasion and metastasis inducing factor of lung carcinoma. The overexpression of Tiam1 is closely associated with lymph node metastases, TNM stage and histological types of lung carcinoma.