ABSTRACT
This study investigates the expression of CD82/KAI1 and epithelial-cadherin [E-cad] in non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC]. Tissues of resected primary NSCLC and normal lung tissue were investigated. Protein expression was detected with immunohistochemical staining. mRNA expression levels of CD82/KAI1 and E-cad were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] after mRNA extraction. The expression of CD82/KAI1 and E-cad was significantly lower in NSCLC compared to normal lung tissue [P < 0.01]. CD821 KAI1 and F-cad mRNA and protein expression were found to be in close relationship with the grade of differentiation, lymph node metastasis and pathologic tumor-node-metastasis [pTNM] stages, and survival in NSCLC [P < 0.01], but no relationship was observed with gender, diameter, type, histological type and age [P > 0.05]. Expression of mRNA CD82/KAI1 and F-cad were consistent with their proteins [P < 0.01], and there was a significant relationship between expression of CD82/KAI1 and F-cad. The survival rate of the CD82/KAI1-positive and CD82/KAI1 -negative groups was significantly different [P < 0.01]. In addition, the survival rate was significantly different between the E-cad-positive and E-cad-negative groups. pTNM stages and positive expression of CD82/KAI1 and E-cad were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC [P < 0.05]. Lower expression of CD82/KAI1 and F-cad was found in NSCLC compared to normal lung tissue. Decreased expression of CD82/KAI1 and F-cad was closely related to cellular differentiation, pTNM stages, invasion and metastasis