Expression of Integrins and Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Correlation with Tumor Metastasis and Prognosis.

Abstract

As invasion and metastasis of cancer seriously threaten human's life, it is of more important clinical significance to understand and evaluate the biologic behavior of cancer correctly. Abnormal expression of integrin and ECM proteins play an important role in invasion and metastasis of cancer. The objective of this study is to analyze the expression of the integrin alpha5, beta1 and ECM proteins in patients with NSCLC and its correlation with lymph node (LN) metastasis as well as prognosis, and to evaluate its roles in the metastasis of tumor. The expression of integrin alpha5, beta1 and collagen type IV, fibronectin, tenascin was determined by immunohistochemistry. The relationship was analysized that between integrin alpha5, beta1 and ECM proteins expression and clinico-pathologic parameters especially LN metastasis and prognosis. The expression of collagen type IV was negatively correlated with LN metastasis, and positively to prognosis of patients; The expression of integrin alpha5, beta1 was positively correlated with LN metastasis, and integrin alpha5 was negatively to prognosis of patients. The expression of integrin alpha5 was positively correlated with the expression of integrin beta1, and negatively with the expression of collagen type IV. The expression of collagen type IV in stage I disease P-TNM stage was remarkably higher than that in stage III disease and poordifferentiated disease (P <0.001), but integrin alpha5, beta1 was significantly higher than that in stage III disease and poordifferentiated disease. Increased expression of integrin alpha5, beta1 and decreased expression of ECM significantly correlated with LN metastasis of NSCLC. Integrin alpha5 and collagen type IV are prognosic factors in patients with NSCLC.