Evaluation of the local and circulating expression level of cannabinoid receptor 2 in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

BackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) plays determining and critical role in the pathophysiology of cancers and can influence the underlying mechanism of tumor cell proliferation and fate. To examine the expression pattern of this receptor in tumor tissue of patients with lung cancer and its relationship with disease exacerbation, our study has the advantage of simultaneously examining this receptor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to determine the local and circulating pattern of this receptor in these patients. MethodsThe CB2R gene expression level was evaluated in 280 adenocarcinomas non-small lung cancer tumors, lung normal tissues and PBMC of patients and healthy donors through Real-Time PCR and the correlation of CB2R expression with the patient's clinical and pathological features were considered. ResultsBased on data, CB2R is considerably overexpressed in lung tumor tissue and PBMC of patients with lung cancer with a considerable increase in tumors with higher stage, metastatic feature and lung tumors with lymph node metastasis indicating the possible involvement of CB2R in lung tumor pathogenesis. The simultaneous increase in the CB2R expression at the tumor site and peripheral blood of patients can provide evidence for the possibility of examining this receptor as a non-invasive prognostic biomarker; while requiring more mechanistic evidence. ConclusionCollectively, CB2R overexpressed locally and in circulation in patients with lung cancer and was associated with tumor stage, metastasis and severity and may serve as a possible therapeutic target in lung cancer.