Prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in surgical samples of lung cancer patients: the European Early Lung Cancer Project

  • Authors:
    • Remco M. Van den Berg
    • Hes Brokx
    • Aurélien Vesin
    • John K. Field
    • Christian Brambilla
    • Chris J.L.M. Meijer
    • G. Thomas Sutedja
    • Daniëlle A.M. Heideman
    • Pieter E. Postmus
    • Egbert F. Smit
    • Peter J.F. Snijders
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 1, 2010     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000694
  • Pages: 455-461
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Abstract

Lung cancer is the most important cause of cancer-related mortality. Resectability and eligibility for treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy is determined by staging according to the TNM classification. Other determinants of tumour behaviour that predict disease outcome, such as molecular markers, may improve decision-making. Activation of the gene encoding human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, and consequently detection of hTERT mRNA might have prognostic value for patients with early stage lung cancer. A cohort of patients who underwent a complete resection for early stage lung cancer was recruited as part of the European Early Lung Cancer (EUELC) project. In 166 patients expression of hTERT mRNA was determined in tumour tissue by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and related to that of a house-keeping gene (PBGD). Of a subgroup of 130 patients tumour-distant normal tissue was additionally available for hTERT mRNA analysis. The correlation between hTERT levels of surgical samples and disease-free survival was determined using a Fine and Gray hazard model. Although hTERT mRNA positivity in tumour tissue was significantly associated with clinical stage (Fisher's exact test p=0.016), neither hTERT mRNA detectability nor hTERT mRNA levels in tumour tissue were associated with clinical outcome. Conversely, hTERT positivity in adjacent normal samples was associated with progressive disease, 28% of patients with progressive disease versus 7.5% of disease-free patients had detectable hTERT mRNA in normal tissue [adjusted HR: 3.60 (1.64-7.94), p=0.0015]. hTERT mRNA level in tumour tissue has no prognostic value for patients with early stage lung cancer. However, detection of hTERT mRNA expression in tumour-distant normal lung tissue may indicate an increased risk of progressive disease.

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August 2010
Volume 37 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Van den Berg RM, Brokx H, Vesin A, Field JK, Brambilla C, Meijer CJ, Sutedja GT, Heideman DA, Postmus PE, Smit EF, Smit EF, et al: Prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in surgical samples of lung cancer patients: the European Early Lung Cancer Project. Int J Oncol 37: 455-461, 2010
APA
Van den Berg, R.M., Brokx, H., Vesin, A., Field, J.K., Brambilla, C., Meijer, C.J. ... Snijders, P.J. (2010). Prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in surgical samples of lung cancer patients: the European Early Lung Cancer Project. International Journal of Oncology, 37, 455-461. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000694
MLA
Van den Berg, R. M., Brokx, H., Vesin, A., Field, J. K., Brambilla, C., Meijer, C. J., Sutedja, G. T., Heideman, D. A., Postmus, P. E., Smit, E. F., Snijders, P. J."Prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in surgical samples of lung cancer patients: the European Early Lung Cancer Project". International Journal of Oncology 37.2 (2010): 455-461.
Chicago
Van den Berg, R. M., Brokx, H., Vesin, A., Field, J. K., Brambilla, C., Meijer, C. J., Sutedja, G. T., Heideman, D. A., Postmus, P. E., Smit, E. F., Snijders, P. J."Prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in surgical samples of lung cancer patients: the European Early Lung Cancer Project". International Journal of Oncology 37, no. 2 (2010): 455-461. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000694