Cancer Research and Treatment  2004;36(5):303-307

Expression of Caspase-3 and c-myc in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

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

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Keywords

Caspase-3; c-myc; Lung cancer

Country

Republic 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.