PTEN EXPRESSION AND ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To investigate the expression of suppressor gene PTEN(phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome ten) and its significance in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods: 78 specimens and clinical history of NSCLC were collected.The immunohistochemical staining for PTEN was performed by streptavidin-peroxidase method.Results: [WTBZ]The total positive rate of PTEN protein expression in NSCLC was 57.69%(45/78).There was no significant difference between squamous cell carcinoma(54.00%,27/50) and adenocarcinoma groups(64.29%,18/28)($P$0.05).The expression rate of the PTEN was 76.47%(13/17) in high differentiation group,60.00%(24/40) in moderate differentiation group,and 38.10%(8/21)in low differentiation group,respectively($P$0.05,$P$0.01).The expression rate of the PTEN was 72.92%(35/48) in stage Ⅰ～Ⅱ and 33.33%(10/30)in stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ,respectively($P$0.01).The PTEN expression rates in NSCLC with and without lymph node metastasis groups were 47.92%(23/48)and 73.33%(22/30),respectively($P$0.05).Two-years survival rate was 66.67% in positive group and 9.09%in negative group($P$0.01).Conclusion: The lower expression of PTEN protein in NSCLC was associated with poorer differentiation,higher clinical stage,lymph node metastasis,and shorter survival time.The lost of expression of PTEN may serve as one of markers for poor prognosis.