Abstract
ERCC1 is considered as a promising molecular marker that may predict platinum based chemotherapy response in non small cell lung cancer patients. We therefore investigated whether its expression is indeed associated with clinical outcomes in advanced stage NSCLC patients. Pretreatment tumor biopsy samples of 83 stage 3B and 4 non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed for immunohistochemical ERCC1 expression. None of the patients received curative surgery or radiotherapy. By calculating H- scores regarding the extent and intensity of immunohistochemical staining of tumor biopsy samples, ERCC1 expression was found to be positive in 50 patients (60.2%). ERCC1 positive and negative groups had no statistically significant differences regarding treatment response, progression free survival and overall survival (respectively p=0.161; p=0.412; p=0.823). In our study we found no association between ERCC1 expression and survival or treatment response. The study has some limitations, such as small sample size and retrospective analysis method. There is need of more knowledge for use of ERCC1 guided chemotherapy regimens in advanced stage NSCLC.
Highlights
Lung cancer became the leading form of cancer in the second half of twentieth century as a result of increased rate of smoking
We evaluated the role of excision repair cross complementing group 1 (ERCC1) expression of tumor cells on progression free survival and overall survival in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum based chemotherapy combinations
High expression of ERCC1 was related with higher survival rates in patients treated with curative surgery alone, whereas adjuvant chemotherapy, over observation, improved survival in ERCC1 negative tumors
Summary
Lung cancer became the leading form of cancer in the second half of twentieth century as a result of increased rate of smoking. Overall five year survival rate of non small cell lung cancer was found as 8% in 1960’s, had a slight increase to 15% in 1990’s reaching a plateau (Bepler et al, 2002). Recurrences especially metastatic recurrences, reflecting the systemic nature of the disease, are an important problem despite curative surgery in selected patients. Response rates to first line chemotherapy and second line single agent chemotherapy in non small cell lung cancer are about 17-37% and 10%, respectively (Simon et al, 2007). ERCC1 is considered as a promising molecular marker that may predict platinum based chemotherapy response in non small cell lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Pretreatment tumor biopsy samples of 83 stage 3B and 4 non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed for immunohistochemical ERCC1 expression. There is need of more knowledge for use of ERCC1 guided chemotherapy regimens in advanced stage NSCLC
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call