Cancer Research and Treatment

The Korean Cancer Association (대한암학회)
권호 표지

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

Yoo, Jin-Young;Kim, Chi-Hong;Song, So-Hyang;Shim, Byoung-Yong;Jeong, Youn-Ju;Ahn, Meyung-Im;Kim, Su-Ji;Cho, Deog-Gon;Jo, Min-Seop;Cho, Kyu-Do;Cho, Hong-Joo;Kang, Seok-Jin;Kim, Hoon-Kyo

  • Published : 20040000
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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.

Keywords

References

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