Expression of RRM1 and RRM2 as a novel prognostic marker in advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of BRCA1, RRM1, and RRM2 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received adjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 418 patients who underwent curative pulmonary resection were obtained between January 2007 and November 2009. The relative cDNA quantification for BRCA1, RRM1, and RRM2 was conducted using a fluorescence-based, real-time detection method, and ß-actin was used as a reference gene. The low expression of RRM1 and RRM2 significantly increased the platinum-based chemotherapy response (For RRM1: odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38-3.18; For RRM2: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.09-2.48). The univariate analysis indicated that low expression of RRM1 attained a longer time to progression and overall survival time, with HR (95% CI) of 0.50 (0.33-0.77) and 0.60 (0.39-0.92), respectively. Similarly, low expression of RRM2 had a longer time to progression and overall survival, with HR (95% CI) of 0.57 (0.38-0.86) and 0.47 (0.31-0.71), respectively. In conclusion, low expression of RRM1 and RRM2 could be used to predict the treatment response to platinum-based chemotherapy and survival in NSCLC. The RRM1 and RRM2 could substantially contribute to the future design of individualized cancer treatment in NSCLC patients.

Comparison of lobe-specific mediastinal lymphadenectomy versus systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for clinical stage T1a N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to explore the appropriate extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection for clinical stage T1a N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by comparison between two modes of mediastinal lymph node dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 96 clinical stage T1a N0 M0 NSCLC cases received radical surgery were randomly divided to lobe-specific mediastinal lymphadenectomy (LL) group and systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy (SL) group from the year 2004 to 2008. The effects of SL and LL on morbidity, N staging, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were investigated. Meanwhile, associations between clinicopathological parameters and metastasis of lymph nodes were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean operating time and blood loss in LL group were significantly less than that in the SL group (135.48 ± 25.44 min vs. 180.85 ± 39.36 min, 155.11 ± 25.17 ml vs. 161.32 ± 28.20 ml, P < 0.05), the mean numbers of dissected lymph nodes of the SL group was significantly greater than that in the LL group (17.1 ± 3.7 vs. 9.4 ± 2.1, P < 0.05). The post-operative overall morbidity rate was higher in the SL group than that in the LL group (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in migration of N staging, OS and DFS between two groups. The post-operative N staging, the tumor cells differentiation and the ratio of ground glass opacity (GGO) in tumor were the independent factors influencing long-term survival. Moreover, the significant correlation was seen between the metastasis of lymph nodes and clinicopathological parameters including tumor location and the GGO ratio. CONCLUSION: The LL group had similar efficacy as the SL group in the clinical stage T1a N0 M0 NSCLC and there was unnecessary to perform systematic lymphadenectomy in such patients with a high ratio of GGO.

Expression of HGF and Met in human tissues of colorectal cancers: biological and clinical implications for synchronous liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Synchronous liver metastasis (SLM) remains a significant problem in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC). The system of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Met plays an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis and is being developed to be targeted drugs. We aimed to investigate the role of HGF/Met in SLM based on a case-matched study and comparison between primary tumors and matched metastases. METHODS: A group of 30 patients with SLM and other two groups of patients without SLM in a hospital database were collected. They were matched into according to clinicopathological factors. 81 patients were included in the study. Their tissues of primary colorectal cancers, lymph nodes and liver metastases were collected to detect HGF and Met expression by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Expression of HGF and Met at the protein level and the RNA level in primary CRCs with SLM were significantly higher than that in primary colorectal carcinomas without liver metastases (all P value<0.05). Their expression was only related to SLM when concurrent with regional lymph node metastasis (all P value<0.05) but had little influence on SLM without involvement of lymph node metastasis (all P value>0.05). Comparison their expression between primary tumors and matched metastases, major concordance and minor difference existed. CONCLUSIONS: HGF and Met may exert functions in the development of SLM when concurrent with lymph node metastases but had little influence on SLM without lymph node metastasis, further indicating their roles and potential values for a subtype of colorectal cancer metastasis. Major concordance and minor difference exist between primary tumors and matched metastases, which further provides evidence for evaluating the response to their inhibitors based on primary tumors or metastases.