Tumor metastasis associated gene mts1 and nm23-H1: expression in the lung carcinoma and relationship with lymph node metastasis

Objective To study the expression of tumor metastasis associated gene mts1 and nm23-H1 in the human lung carcinoma and their relationship with lymph node metastasis. Methods Fresh specimens excised from 26 cases of human lung squamous cell carcinoma and 13 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma were hybridized in situ with mts1 and nm23-H1 cDNA probes marked with digoxin. Results In 26 cases of human lung squamous cell carcinoma, there were 11 cases of lymph node metastasis, including 9 cases of positive mts1 mRNA expression (82%) and 8 cases of positive nm23-H1 mRNA expression (73%), and 15 cases of non-lymph node metastasis, including 4 cases of positive mts1 mRNA expression (27%) and 10 cases of positive nm23-H1 mRNA expression (67%). In 13 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma, there were 5 cases of lymph node metastasis, including 4 cases of positive mts1 mRNA expression (80%) and 4 cases of positive nm23-H1 mRNA expression (80%), and 8 cases of non-lymph node metastasis, including 3 cases of positive mts1 mRNA expression (38%) and 6 cases of positive nm23-H1 mRNA expression (75%). Conclusion mts1 mRNA expression in lung squamous carcinoma was significantly different between lymph node metastasis group and non-lymph node metastasis group and that in lung adenocarcinoma was of no difference between two groups. nm23-H mRNA expression in lung squamous carcinoma or in lung adenocarcinoma was of no significant difference between two groups.