PURPOSE: Traditional chemotherapy is the main adjuvant therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) has greatly restricted the curative effect of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to find a method to treat MDR NSCLC clinically. It is worth investigating whether NSCLCs that are resistant to traditional chemotherapy can be effectively treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) was detected by immunohistochemistry, and mutations in EGFR (exons 19 and 21) and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) (exon 2) were detected by high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) of surgical NSCLC specimens from 127 patients who did not undergo traditional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A Pearson chi-square test was performed to analyze the correlations between the expression of P-gp and LRP and mutations in EGFR and KRAS. RESULTS: The expression frequencies of P-gp and LRP were significantly higher in adenocarcinomas from non-smoking patients; the expression frequency of LRP was significantly higher in cancer tissue from female patients. The frequency of EGFR mutations was significantly higher in well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas from non-smoking female patients. The frequency of EGFR mutations in the cancers that expressed P-gp, LRP, or both P-gp and LRP was significantly higher than that in cancers that did not express P-gp or LRP. CONCLUSION: NSCLCs expressing P-gp/LRP bear the EGFR mutation in exon 19 or 21 easily.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*genetics/surgery ; Exons/*genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; P-Glycoprotein/*genetics ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/*genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/*genetics ; Treatment Outcome ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles/*genetics ; ras Proteins/*genetics

This study was aimed to characterize clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with adenosquamous lung carcinoma (ASC). Among the 2531 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery between January 2000 and June 2012 in our hospital, 59 were histologically diagnosed as having ASC. The clinicopathological features and follow-up data of ASC patients were collected and analyzed statistically. Superior lobectomy was accomplished in 40 patients, middle and inferior lobectomy in 3, lobectomy plus partial resection of contralateral lung in 5, partial lung resection in 4, and pneumonectomy in 7. Moreover, 22 cases were found to be adenocarcinoma-predominant, and 18 to be squamous cell carcinoma-predominant. The median survival time was 13.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 59.9%, 36.4% and 31.2%, respectively. Of the 52 cases with tissue specimens available, 11 had an EGFR mutation (21.2%) and 2 had a KRAS mutation (3.8%). Multivariate analysis showed that histology subtype, pleural invasion, TNM stage, and postoperative treatment were all independent prognostic factors. The data from the current study demonstrated that SCC-predominant histology represents a better prognosis of ASC. Histology subtype, pleural invasion, TNM stage, and postoperative treatment are independent prognostic factors for ASC and adjuvant therapy may help control the disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; genetics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate ALK gene rearrangements in lung adenocarcinomas in correlation with clinicopathologic parameters including prognosis.

METHODSFluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect ALK gene rearrangements in 53 cases of lung adenocarcinomas. Mutations in exons 18, 19, 20 and 21 of EGFR were analyzed by Scorpion amplification refractory mutation system (Scorpions ARMS).

RESULTSIn a cohort of 53 lung adenocarcinomas, ALK gene rearrangements were identified in 6 tumors (11.3%), including 4 male and 2 female patients. Five were acinar predominant adenocarcinomas and one was mucinous adenocarcinoma (P=1.000). All tumors with the ALK rearrangements had the wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene (P=0.023). The median time of disease-free survival (DFS) in ALK positive patients and negative patients were 14 months (95%CI 8.0-20.0) and 31 months (95%CI 24.9-37.1), respectively and the difference was significant (Log-rank test, P=0.019). ALK gene rearrangements were significantly associated with early recurrence, but not tumor size, pathologic stages, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSALK gene rearrangements are present at a higher frequency in lung adenocarcinomas of the Chinese patients. ALK gene rearrangements are mutually exclusive with EGFR mutations and associated with early tumor recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Exons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of malignant phyllodes tumors (PT) by histopathologic analyses, immunohistochemical profiling and DNA content assay, and evaluation of the clinical outcome.

METHODSTen patients with malignant PT from 1999 to 2013 who were treated by surgery were enrolled in this study. The morphologic characteristics were studied under light microscope, standard two-step EnVision method of immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expression of CK5/6, CKpan, 34β E12, desmin, p63, ER-α, PR, Ki-67, CD34, SMA, p53, p16, bcl-2 and CD117 in the tumors. The corresponding paraffin blocks were also used for flow cytometric DNA content assay. These data were correlated with the follow-up results.

RESULTSThe median age of onset was 46.5 years old. The mean tumor size was 7.4 cm (2.0-25.0 cm). At the end of the follow-up period (22 to 125 months), there were tumor recurrences in 3/8 patients and the median time of recurrence was 24 months. Metastasis occurred in 3/8 patients who all died of the tumors. PT had heterogeneous histology, with stromal overgrowth with leaf-like projections, periductal stromal overgrowth, and most commonly, diffuse stromal overgrowth with sarcomatous differentiation. The mean positive index of Ki-67 was 11.4%. The stromal tumor cells were positive for CD34, SMA, p53, p16, and bcl-2 in 3/10, 9/10, 6/10, 8/10, and 4/10 cases, respectively. CD117,ER-α and PR were negative. Interpretable DNA histograms were obtained in nine cases with triploidy in two cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of malignant PT should be considered based on the diversity of growth patterns and heterogeneous histology.Ki-67 and CD34 are valuable diagnostic and prognostic factors in patients with malignant PT. Tumors with diffuse stromal overgrowth, heterologous elements, Ki-67 ≥ 20% or aneuploidy are more likely to metastasize.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diploidy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Mastectomy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Phyllodes Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Triploidy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of clinical effect and prognosis between patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and different K-ras status.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics, chemotherapeutic regimens and survival of 153 mCRC patients with different K-ras status were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe median overall survival (OS) in patients without K-ras mutation were 31.7 months, significantly longer than 21.3 months in the patients with K-ras mutation (P = 0.037). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS in patients who received chemotherapy followed by anti-EGFR antibody treatment were 11.5 and 39.3 months, respectively, significantly longer as compared with the PFS and OS in those received chemotherapy in combination with anti-EGFR antibody concomitantly (5.7, P = 0.02, and 28.7 months, P = 0.034, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSK-ras status is a prognostic biomarker for mCRC patients treated with anti-EGFR antibody. The combination settings of anti-EGFR in combination with chemotherapy may improve survival of mCRC patients with wild-type K-ras status.

Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of transcription factor SOX4 in lung cancer tissues of female patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province, and explore its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the female patients.

METHODSReal-time PCR was applied on lung cancer specimens and their corresponding normal lung tissues from 96 female cases of Xuanwei area to assess the expression of SOX4 mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the SOX4 protein expression, and further to elucidate its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

RESULTSThe expression level of SOX4 mRNA in the cancer tissues (2.53 ± 1.65) was significantly higher than that of matched normal tissues (1.43 ± 1.14, P = 0.003). Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were 53.1% (51/96) positive expression of SOX4 protein in the cancer tissue and only 26.0% (25/96) in matched normal tissue (P < 0.001). The expression of SOX4 protein had a significant correlation with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and differentiation of tumor (P < 0.05). The survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method showed that patients with positive expression of SOX4 protein, lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor stage had a significantly shorter median survival time (P < 0.05). Cox regression survival analysis showed that pathological grade was a significant independent factor affecting prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of SOX4 mRNA and protein are significantly up-regulated in Xuanwei female lung cancer patients. Patients with positive SOX4 expression have a shorter median survival time. SOX4 protein expression level combined with pathological grade can be used as a prognostic indicator of female lung cancer patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequency of EML4-ALK fusion gene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and its correlation with clinicopathologic features.

METHODSReal-time PCR was used to detect the presence of EML4-ALK fusion gene in 268 cases of NSCLCs using paraffin-embedded tissue samples(among which 164 samples were re-validated by Sanger sequencing). Related clinicopathological correlation was analyzed.

RESULTSEML4-ALK fusion gene was found in 4.1% (11/268) of the cases. One hundred and sixty four samples were verified by Sanger sequencing, and the overall coincidence of the results of two methods (Sanger sequencing and Real-time PCR) was 100%. Female patients (5.9%, 5/85), ≤ 60 years of age (4.3%, 6/140), non-smokers (6.8%, 8/118) and adenocarcinomas (7.6%, 10/132) had a higher mutation rate than that in male patients (3.3%, 6/183), > 60 years of age (4.0%, 5/124), smokers (1.6%, 2/132) and squamous cell carcinomas (1.3%, 1/79), although no statistical significance in age (P = 0.918), gender (P = 0.503), smoking history (P = 0.092) and histological type (P = 0.094).

CONCLUSIONSChinese NSCLC patients have a 4.1% detection rate of EML4-ALK fusion gene in the tumor tissues. Female, non-smoker and adenocarcinoma histological subtype tend to be associated with a higher rate of EML4-ALK gene fusion.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the relationship between the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status and clinicopathological factors, and to analyze the mutation on the effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery.

METHODSThe NSCLC patients who were resected and detected EGFR gene from March 2009 to March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between EGFR mutation status and clinicopathological factors, tumor markers, prognostic was analyzed.

RESULTSThe mutation and the wild group had 169 and 214 patients respectively. EGFR mutation in female, non-smoking, adenocarcinoma and less than 60 years old accounted for 63.91%, 61.54%, 88.76% and 62.13% with statistical significance compared with male (χ(2) = 53.490, P = 0.000), smoking (χ(2) = 48.568, P = 0.000), non-adenocarcinoma (χ(2) = 105.560, P = 0.000) and more than 60 years old (χ(2) = 6.057, P = 0.017). Disease free survival (DFS) of the wild group was better than mutation group (χ(2) = 11.329, P = 0.001). In addition, there were some relations between mutation status and excision repair cross complementing (ERCC1) protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Cyfra21-1. ERCC1(+) (χ(2) = 6.739, P = 0.012), SCC(χ(2) = 16.839, P = 0.000) and Cyfra21-1(χ(2) = 6.638, P = 0.013) more than normal value was common in wild group. Increased CEA was common in mutation group (χ(2) = 5.436, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONSEGFR mutation is commonly found in female, non-smoking, adenocarcinoma and less than 60 years old NSCLC patients. The wild group obtains better DFS than mutation group. Tumor markers may predict the mutation status, which need further research.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; mortality ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the immunophenotype and gene rearrangement pattern of pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

METHODSNine cases of pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis, included 5 cases of open lung biopsy, 3 cases of lobectomy specimen and 1 case of autopsy, were retrospectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA, immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 3 to 59 years. The male-to-female ratio was 3: 6. Histologically, all cases showed lymphocytic infiltration surrounding the blood vessels and in the perivascular areas. Most of these lymphoid cells expressed T-cell marker CD3. There were also variable numbers of CD20-positive B cells. The staining for CD56 was negative. According to the WHO classification, there were 4 cases of grade I , 1 case of grade II and 4 cases of grade III lesions. Six cases had gene rearrangement studies performed and 3 of them demonstrated clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement (including 1 of the grade II and 2 of the grade III lesions). No T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was detected.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis may represent a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders. Some of the cases show B-cell immunophenotype and clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, especially the grade II and grade lesions. They are likely of lymphomatous nature.

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; beta Catenin ; metabolism