Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2008 Aug;41(4):447-456.

The Caspase-3 and c-myc Expressions in Completely Resected Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Prognostic Significance

• Cho DG
• Cho KD
• Kang CU
• Jo MS
• Yoo J
• Ahn MI
• Kim CH
• Shim BY
• Kim SW
• Kim HK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease that plays a major role in the process of apoptotic cell death. The dysregulated expression of c-myc contributes to the tumorigenesis in a variety of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc and their significances as prognosis markers in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total 130 consecutive patients who had undergone complete resection without pre-operative radio-therapy or chemotherapy between May 1996 and December 2003 for NSCLC were retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up period of the patients was 50 months (range: 3~128 months). The expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc were immunohistochemically examined, and these were correlated with the clinico-pathologic data. RESULT: The prevalence of caspase-3 and c-myc expressions in the patients was 68% (88/130) and 59% (77/130), respectively. Significant association was found between the frequency of the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc (p=0.025). The caspase-3 and c-myc expressions were not significantly associated with the prognosis in all the patients. However, according to stages, a positive caspase-3 expression was significantly correlated with a favorable prognosis for patients with stage IIIa disease (median survival period: 35 months vs. 10 months, p=0.021). Multivariate analysis showed the pathologic stage to be significantly correlated with a good prognosis in all the patients (p=0.024), and with a positive caspase-3 expression, well differentiated tumor and negative neuronal invasion in the patients with stage IIIa disease (p=0.005, p=0.003, p=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Caspase-3 and c-myc were frequently expressed in NSCLC, suggesting its possible involvement in tumor development. The caspase-3 expression, as determined with performing immunohistochemical staining, may be a favorable prognostic indicator in patients with completely resected NSCLC of an advanced stage (IIIa).

Keyword

Carcinoma, non-small cell, lung; Prognosis; Neoplasm marker; Enzymes

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Caspase 3
Cell Death
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Cysteine Proteases
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Neurons
Prevalence
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Caspase 3
Cysteine Proteases