Expression of PTEN and DNA content and invasion and metastasis of lung cancer

Objective This study was designed to determine the expression ofgeneproducts of phosphatase and tensin homoligy deleted onehromoseten(PTEN)and DNA content in non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)tissue and investigate their association with the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.Methods The expression of PTEN were detected in 78 cases of lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry SP methods,DNA content in 30 cases of lung cancer tissues was examined by flow cytometry.Results The rate of total expression depletion of PTEN was 42.3%.The rates of PTEN expression depletion in lymph node metastasis group and no lymph node metastasis group were 52.1%and 26.7%respectively,with significantant difference(P＜0.05).The patients who had high expression of PTEN had a longer survival time.The range of the DNA index(DI)distribution ranged from 1.04 to 1.93,the DNA index and aneuploid tumor had a positive correlation with the lymph node metastasis,with the increased of TNM stage,the DI and the rate of DNA aneuploid increased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Expression of PTEN is associated strongly with lymph node metastasis of lung cancer,correlations exist between DNA content and TNM stage,lymph node metastasis.They are indications of metastasis potential and prognosis of lung cancer. Key words: Carcinoma,non-small-cell lung; Metastasis; Gene,PTEN; DNA content