The expression of Fas/FasL gene protein and its chinical significance in human non-small cell lung cancer

Objectives: To study the clinical significance of the expression of Fas/FasL gene protein in non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods: By using SP immunohistochemical method with anti Fas and FasL multi clonal antibody, we detected the expression of Fas/FasL gene protein in 65 cases of NSCLC and studied its correlation with histological types,local lymph node metastases, pathological grades and TNM stages. Results: The positive expression rate of Fas(46.15%) in NSCLC was much lower than that(80.00%) in the normal lung tissues( P 0.05),but the expression rate of FasL( 49.23 %) in NSCLC was much higher than that(13.33%) in the normal lung tissues( P 0.05). FasL was correlated with the stage of local lymph node metastases, but none of them had any correlation with histological types,pathological grades or the TNM stages( P 0.05). Conclusions: The data demonstrated that Fas/FasL might involve in the regulation of apoptosis of NSCLC,and the expression of FasL might be used as an objective indicator of the metastatic potency of local lymph node, extent of invation and the prognosis in NSCLC.