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NSCLC Patients (nsclc + patient)
Selected AbstractsGemcitabine-induced severe pulmonary toxicityFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Fabrice Barlési Abstract Gemcitabine is a relatively new deoxycytidine analog (2,,2,-difluorodeoxycytidine) with structural similarities to cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). Activity of gemcitabine is demonstrated in the treatment of many solid tumors, like pancreas, ovarian and nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although gemcitabine is considered as a drug with a good safety profile, cases of gemcitabine-induced severe pulmonary toxicity (GISPT) were reported as for Ara-C. We performed a systematic review of reported cases on the GISPT. Twenty-nine clinical trials especially interesting NSCLC patients (21) and 21 reported cases recording 40 patients were analyzed. The incidence of the GISPT varies from 0 to 5%. The clinical presentation is a subacute clinical syndrome and is frequently nonspecific. The predominant radiographic pattern on chest X-ray are reticulo-nodular interstitial infiltrates. It was postulated that the physio-pathological mechanism of the GISPT was an inflammatory reaction of the alveolar capillary wall cytokine-mediated, which created an abnormal permeability of its membrane. After the differential diagnosis were ruled out, the discontinuation of the drug and the early initiation of steroids and diuretics are the most frequently performed treatments. Under these conditions, the outcome was favorable in a delay of few days generally for a majority of patients but 20% of patients died. Some risk factors, as a previous pulmonary disease or a previous thoracic irradiation, for the occurrence of the GISPT were proposed. GISPT is rare but sometimes fatal. Its a necessity to increase awareness about it to enhanced an early and suitable management of patients developing such a toxicity after gemcitabine administration. [source] Putative functional polymorphisms of MMP9 predict survival of NSCLC in a Chinese populationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 9 2009Guangfu Jin Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in cancer progression and their over-expression is often associated with unfavorable survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because genetic variants can alter expression level or biological activity of MMPs, we hypothesized that potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key MMP genes may be associated with the survival of NSCLC patients. We selected and genotyped 14 putative functional SNPs in six MMP genes (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP7, MMP9 and MMP12) using PCR-RFLP methods in 561 NSCLC patients. Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models were used for the survival analyses. The C-1562T, Arg279Gln and Arg668Gln polymorphisms in MMP9 were significantly associated with survival of patients with NSCLC (log-rank p values = 0.032, 0.038 and 0.036, respectively). The C-1562T and Arg668Gln loci were in complete linkage disequilibrium (r2 = 1). Patients carrying the 668Gln allele had improved survival with a median survival time (MST) of 51.6 months, compared with 21.8 months for those with the 668Arg/Arg genotype (log-rank p = 0.010). In contrast, the 279Gln/Gln genotype was associated with a significantly shortened MST (17.3 months, log-rank p = 0.030) in the recessive model. In the final multivariate Cox regression model, 279Gln/Gln was identified as an independent prognostic factor with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.60 (95% confidence interval 1.07,2.41). The MMP9 Arg279Gln and Arg668Gln SNPs are potential predictors of survival in NSCLC patients. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Impact of HER2 and EGFR gene status on gefitinib-treated patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 5 2007Junichi Soh Abstract We previously examined the relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and clinical outcomes of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with gefitinib. In our study, we additionally examined HER2 status and investigate the impact of genetic status as predictors in Japanese NSCLC patients treated with gefitinib. The HER2 copy number status was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization assay and mutation of HER2 exon 20 was determined by direct sequencing in 74 patients to investigate the relationship between molecular statuses including HER2 and EGFR and the clinical outcomes of patients treated with gefitinib. The high HER2 copy number was identified in 32 (43.2%) of 74 NSCLC patients and no HER2 exon 20 mutations were found. The high HER2 copy number was significantly associated with the sensitivity to gefitinib (p = 0.0045) and a prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.0089) in a univariate analysis, but not in a multivariate analysis. Multivariate analyses exhibited that the drug-sensitive EGFR mutation was an independent predictive factor of a better sensitivity to gefitinib (OR = 41.9, p = 0.002), prolonged overall survival (HR = 0.32, p = 0.019) and PFS (HR = 0.31, p = 0.0045). The high EGFR copy number might have a weak association with better response and prognosis without statistical significance. In conclusion, the drug-sensitive EGFR mutation, rather than HER2 and EGFR copy numbers, is a determinant of favorable clinical outcomes in gefitinib-treated patients with NSCLC, although the high HER2 copy number, to some extent, may influence the gefitinib effect. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in needle biopsy/aspiration samples predict response to gefitinib therapy and survival of patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2006Jin-Yuan Shih Abstract Recently, mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were reported to correlate with gefitinib response. Less than 30% of NSCLC patients are surgically resectable; however, molecular analysis has to rely on nonsurgical diagnostic tissue samples. The objective of this study is to investigate EGFR mutation analysis on needle biopsy/aspiration samples and its correlations with gefitinib response and patients' survival. EGFR mutation was assessed from DNA of 63 paraffin-embedded small needle biopsy/aspiration specimens from 62 patients with NSCLC treated with gefitinib. The peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA of the patients was sequenced to verify the EGFR mutation. EGFR mutations were found in 47% of 62 patients (60% of 20 CT-guided biopsies, 44% of 18 ultrasound-guided biopsies, 31% of 16 endoscopic biopsies and 44% of 9 effusion cell blocks). EGFR mutations were frequently present in females (p = 0.006) and never smokers (p = 0.04). Patients with EGFR mutations had a significantly better response rate compared to that of the nonmutation group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that EGFR mutation (p < 0.001) and PS 0,1 (p = 0.02) were independently associated with a better response rate. Cox regression analysis showed that EGFR mutation was the independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (p = 0.008) and overall survival (p = 0.03). In conclusion, EGFR mutation analysis is feasible in needle biopsy/aspiration paraffin-fixed specimens. EGFR mutation is an independent predictor of gefitinib response and survival in patients of advanced NSCLC treated by gefitinib. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Elevated activities of MMP-2 in the non-tumorous lung tissues of curatively resected stage I NSCLC patients are associated with tumor recurrence and a poor survival,JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Sang-Hui Kim Abstract Background and Objectives We wanted to assess whether the level of enzyme activity for a particular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and not the amount of expressed protein, in lung tissue could be used as a reliable prognostic biomarker for tumor recurrence leading to poorer survival in a certain subgroup of patients who have undergone curative resection for stage I human NSCLC. Methods We determined what type of MMP was significant for tumor recurrence by using a mouse model of pulmonary metastasis with inoculating the footpad with H460 human cancer cells. We then looked for any association between tumor recurrence and the level of enzyme activities for the selected MMP in the tumor and also in the pathologically non-tumorous tissues from 34 stage I lung cancer patients. Results We obtained H460/PM6 cells having a highly metastatic potential after six repeated cycles of pulmonary metastasis by using the mouse footpad inoculated with the metastasized cancer cells in the previous cycle. We started with human lung cancer cells, H460, and we found that among the tested MMPs we tested for, the level of MMP-2 mRNA was elevated. No significant difference was seen in the level of enzyme activity of the MMP-2 cells from the curatively resected tumor tissues of the stage I NSCLC patients who were later found with or without recurrence. However, the level of MMP-2 enzyme activity was found to be significantly different between the non-tumorous lung tissues from patients later found with and without recurrence, and it was associated with the 5-year survival rate. Conclusions This observation suggests that the higher level of MMP-2 enzyme activity in the non-tumorous tissues from the patients could be used as a prognostic biomarker to predict post-operative tumor recurrence and survival for patients with stage I NSCLC. The elevated enzyme activity of MMP-2 in the non-tumorous tissue resected from stage I NSCLC could be used as a prognostic indicator for post-operative tumor recurrence and the patients' poor survival. Further, this could be an important aid for physicians' making decision on whether to subject particular patients to post-operative adjunct chemotherapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;95:337,346. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Marital status and non-small cell lung cancer survival: the Lung Cancer Database Project in JapanPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Kumi Saito-Nakaya Abstract Objective: Previous studies have suggested that marital status is associated with survival from lung cancer; however, its association is not conclusive. The association between marital status and survival in Japanese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was prospectively investigated. Methods: Between July 1999 and July 2004, a total of 1230 NSCLC patients were enrolled. The baseline survey consisted of the collection of clinical information and various demographic data, including marital status. A Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazards ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality adjustments for age, BMI, education level, performance status, histology type, clinical stage, smoking status, choice of definitive treatment, and depression. Results: The multivariable adjusted HR of male widowed patients versus male married patients was 1.7 (95% confidence interval=1.2,2.5, p=0.005). However, no significant increased risk of death in female widowed patients compared with female married patients was observed (HR=0.7, 95% confidence interval=0.5,1.1, p=0.15). With regard to separated/divorced and single patients no significant increased risk of death in male and/or female compared with married patients was observed. Conclusions: The present data suggest that male widowed patients with NSCLC have a higher mortality rate than male married patients with NSCLC, after controlling for various factors. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Course of psychological distress and its predictors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patientsPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Tatsuo Akechi Abstract This study investigated longitudinal changes and predictive factors for psychological distress among 85 newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Whereas tension-anxiety after diagnosis (T1) was significantly reduced at two months (T2) and six months (T3) after diagnosis and depression-dejection at T1 was significantly reduced at T2, other forms of psychological distress, including anger,hostility, vigor, fatigue, and confusion, did not show significant changes. Total mood disturbance did not show significant change. Only a higher total mood disturbance at T1 was a significant predictor of total mood disturbance at T3. These findings demonstrate that most types of psychological distress experienced by advanced NSCLC patients is likely to persist during the subsequent clinical course. The findings also suggest that initial psychological distress itself after cancer diagnosis is the most important predictor for subsequent psychological distress and that early intervention beginning immediately after the disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer is one way to prevent and/or reduce subsequent psychological distress in advanced NSCLC patients. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The significance of tumour markers as an indication for mediastinoscopy in non-small cell lung cancerRESPIROLOGY, Issue 2 2003Soichiro ANDO Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the significance of tumour markers as indicators for mediastinoscopy in non-small cell lung cancer. Methodology: In the past 4 years, 205 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) underwent surgical resection at Chiba Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan. The correlation between the serum levels of eight tumour markers (CEA, AFP, CA19-9, SCC, NSE, CA125, CYFRA, ProGRP) and the presence of N2 disease was analysed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the relationship between both marker levels and clinical findings and N2 disease. Results: In multivariate analysis, positive CEA was significantly associated with the diagnosis of N2 disease. We also demonstrated that when CA125, CYFRA and ProGRP were positive, they were individually significantly associated with N2 disease. However, CEA was superior to the other markers and equivalent to a combination of various tumour markers. Conclusion: It was concluded that evaluation of CEA in addition to CT is of use in the diagnosis of N2 disease in NSCLC patients and should be used as an indication for mediastinoscopy. [source] The immunohistochemical expression of BNIP3 protein in non-small-cell lung cancer: a tissue microarray studyAPMIS, Issue 8 2010IVO ÜBERALL Überall I, Kolek V, Klein J, Krej,í V, ,,astná J, Radová L, ,karda J, Fridman E. The immunohistochemical expression of BNIP3 protein in non-small-cell lung cancer: a tissue microarray study. APMIS 2010; 118: 565,70. Drug resistance is one of the reasons for chemotherapy failure in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). One of the major mechanisms of drug resistance is the inhibition of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Therefore, the study of novel cell death pathways could possibly enable us to overcome resistance to apoptosis in NSCLC. One of the non-caspase types of cell death is autophagy. BNIP3 protein, a Bcl-2 family member, highly expressed in some tumours, plays a key role in the induction of autophagy. In the present study, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression and subcellular localization of BNIP3 in a series of early- and late-stage non-small-cell lung carcinomas and normal bronchial tissues, and correlated this expression with the occurrence of metastasis and survival. BNIP3 was strongly expressed in the nucleus of cancer cells in 16/79 (20.3%) cases. This BNIP3 positivity did not correlate with histological grade, stage, histology type, metastatic potential, or expression of BNIP3 according to median values. No significant correlation was observed between the expression of BNIP3 and the overall survival of NSCLC patients (p = 0.55). Nor did we find any significant correlation between BNIP3 expression and the occurrence of site-specific metastasis (p = 0.85). [source] HER2 and tau expression as potential markers for response and survival to first line taxane plus cisplatin therapy in non-small cell lung cancerASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Byoung Yong SHIM Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the role of various HER2, tau and bcl2 as prognostic markers of responsiveness to taxane and cisplatin therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Amplification of HER2 gene determined by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and HER2, tau and bcl2 protein expression determined by immunohistochemistry were assessed in 49 patients with NSCLC enrolled in our four clinical trials of taxane plus cisplatin chemotherapy. Results: The patients were classified as responders or non-responders, a negative tau expression was associated with a significantly higher rate of response compared to a positive tau expression (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.01,10.97, P = 0.043). Patients with more than stable disease compared to those with progressive disease showed that negative amplification of the HER2 gene was associated with a significantly higher rate of disease control compared to positive amplification (OR 7.35, 95% CI 0.83,65.21, P = 0.048). Furthermore, HER2 gene amplification was strongly associated with the overall survival: 20 months (95% CI 9.007,30.993) in patients with negative amplification of the HER2 gene versus 12 months (95% CI 6.584,17.416) in patients with positive amplification of the HER2 gene (P = 0.040). A multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that HER2 gene amplification was a significant independent prognostic factor with a hazard ratio of 2.334 (95% CI 1.060,5.142, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Tau protein expression and HER2 gene amplification are the prognostic factors in NSCLC patients treated with a taxane and cisplatin combination. [source] Prognostic model to predict outcomes in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients treated with gefitinib as a salvage treatmentCANCER, Issue 7 2009Min Jae Park MD Abstract BACKGROUND: A prognostic model based on clinical parameters for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with gefitinib (250 mg/day) as a salvage therapy was devised. METHODS: Clinical data regarding a total of 316 metastatic or recurrent NSCLC patients who were treated with gefitinib were analyzed. RESULTS: Poor prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) by multivariate analysis were an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2 to 3 (hazards ratio [HR] of 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-2.73 [P < .001]), the presence of intra-abdominal metastasis (HR of 1.76; 95% CI, 1.33-2.34 [P < .001]), elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (HR of 1.50; 95% CI, 1.13-2.00 [P = .005]), time interval from diagnosis to gefitinib therapy of ,12 months (HR of 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12-1.95 [P = .005]), low serum albumin (HR of 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.92 [P = .009]), progression-free interval for previous chemotherapy of ,12 weeks (HR of 1.40; 95% CI, 1.0-1.84 [P = .015]), white blood cell >10,000/,L (HR of 1.38; 95% CI, 1.02-1.85 [P = .032]), and ever-smoker (HR of 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.75 [P = .033]). Of the 272 patients applicable to this prognostic model, 41 patients (15%) were categorized as a good prognosis group (0-1 risk factors), 100 patients (37%) as an intermediate prognosis group (2-3 risk factors), 81 patients (30%) as a poor prognosis group (4-5 risk factors), and 50 patients (16%) as a very poor prognosis group (,6 risk factors). The median OS from the time of gefitinib treatment for the good, intermediate, poor, and very poor prognosis groups were 18.0 months, 11.2 months, 4.0 months, and 1.3 months, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This prognostic model based on easily available clinical variables would be useful to identify patients who might derive more benefit from gefitinib treatment and to make decisions in clinical practice. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source] Association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism and MDM2 SNP309 with clinical outcome of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancerCANCER, Issue 4 2008Ji-Youn Han MD Abstract BACKGROUND. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of p53 codon 72 (Arg72Pro) and MDM2 SNP309 (309T>G) affect p53 expression and the clinical outcome of patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. A total of 148 NSCLC patients, previously enrolled in 2 different prospective clinical trials, were genotyped for the p53 Arg72Pro and MDM2 309T>G polymorphisms. Immunohistochemical staining of p53 protein was performed on 61 tumor samples. Genotypes were correlated with p53 expression, clinicopathologic factors, tumor response, and survival. Multivariate logistic or Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for possible confounding variables. RESULTS. The distribution of sex, age, performance status, stage, tumor histology, and smoking habit was not significantly different among polymorphism variants. However, a significant association was observed between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and primary resistance to chemotherapy. Patients with the Pro/Pro variant were more likely to be resistant to first-line chemotherapy, especially the irinotecan plus cisplatin regimen, than those with Arg/Arg or Arg/Pro variants (60% vs 27%, P = .014). In multivariate analysis, the Pro/Pro genotype was strongly predictive for shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.952, P = .01). The p53 overexpression was associated with MDM2 SNP309. The TT genotype showed more p53 overexpression than TG or GG genotypes (P = .036). In multivariate analysis, the MDM2 TT genotype was independently predictive for longer survival (HR = 1.742, P = .032). CONCLUSIONS. The p53 72Pro/Pro variant was predictive for primary resistance to chemotherapy and shorter progression-free survival. The MDM2 SNP309 was associated with less p53 overexpression and prognostic for worse survival. Genotyping these polymorphisms may be useful for predicting the clinical outcome of advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source] Correlation of angiogenesis with 18F-FMT and 18F-FDG uptake in non-small cell lung cancerCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2009Kyoichi Kaira L-[3- 18F]-,-methyltyrosine (18F-FMT) is an amino-acid tracer for positron-emission tomography (PET). We have conducted a clinicopathologic study to elucidate the correlation of angiogenesis with 18F-FMT and 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) uptake in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thirty-seven NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study, and two PET studies with 18F-FMT and 18F-FDG were performed. Uptake of PET tracers was evaluated with standardized uptake value. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, CD34, L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and Ki-67 labeling index of the resected tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, and correlated with the clinicopathologic variables and the uptake of PET tracers. The median VEGF rate was 45% (range, 10,78%). High expression was seen in 30 patients (81%, 30/37). VEGF expression was statistically associated with progressively growing microvessel count. VEGF showed a correlation with LAT1 expression (P = 0.04) and Ki-67 labeling index (P = 0.01). However, it showed no correlation with age, gender, disease stage, tumor size, and histology. Microvessel density (MVD) showed no correlation with any parameters. 18F-FMT and 18F-FDG uptake correlated significantly with VEGF (P < 0.0001, P = 0.026, respectively), whereas the correlation of 18F-FMT and VEGF was more meaningful. The present study demonstrated that the metabolic activity of primary tumors as evaluated by PET study with 18F-FMT and 18F-FDG is related to tumor angiogenesis and the proliferative activity in NSCLC. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 753,758) [source] Potential biomarkers involving IKK/RelA signal in early stage non-small cell lung cancerCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008Xianqing Jin The clinical relevance of nuclear factor ,B (NF-,B) and its regulatory molecules on prognosis of patient with early stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted biomarker analyses with survival in patients with stages I and II NSCLC. Tumor samples were collected from 88 patients with early-stage NSCLC (stages I, II). A minimum follow-up period of 5 years was required. RelA, phosphorylated I,B (pI,B,), pIKK,/, were detected by immunostaining. NF-,B DNA binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Association of clinical and pathologic variables (e.g. sex, age, pathologic stage) with relevant molecules was determined by Pearson's ,2 test or Fisher's exact test. Survival analysis based on single expression of RelA, pI,B,, pIKK,/, as well as composite expressions were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models, and log rank test followed Kaplan-Meier estimates. RelA, pI,B,, pIKK,/, were observed as increased expression in NSCLC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal lung tissues. These molecules were associated with tumor-node-metastasis stages, T stages and histological status, respectively. Among the molecules analyzed, RelA and pI,B,-positive were statistically significant predictors of patient death in the entire patient population adjusted by age, gender and smoking status; furthermore both RelA and pI,B,-positive was the strongest prognostic indicators of poor prognosis by univariate and multivariate analyses. Borderline positive correlations were observed between RelA and pI,B, or pIKK,/, expression. In this cohort of early-stage NSCLC patients, molecular markers, especially composite application of multiple biomarkers (both nuclear RelA and cytoplasmic pI,B-, expression) that independently predict overall survival have been identified. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 582,589) [source] Characterization of SEZ6L2 cell-surface protein as a novel prognostic marker for lung cancerCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 8 2006Nobuhisa Ishikawa To identify molecules that might serve as biomarkers or targets for development of novel molecular therapies, we have been screening genes encoding transmembrane/secretory proteins that are up-regulated in lung cancers, using cDNA microarrays coupled with purification of tumor cells by laser microdissection. A gene encoding seizure-related 6 homolog (mouse)-like 2 (SEZ6L2) protein, was chosen as a candidate for such molecule. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western-blot analyses documented increased expression of SEZ6L2 in the majority of primary lung cancers and lung-cancer cell lines examined. SEZ6L2 protein was proven to be present on the surface of lung-cancer cells by flow cytometrical analysis using anti-SEZ6L2 antibody. Immunohistochemical staining for tumor tissue microarray consisting of 440 archived lung-cancer specimens detected positive SEZ6L2 staining in 327 (78%) of 420 non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and 13 (65%) of 20 small-cell lung cancers (SCLCs) examined. Moreover, NSCLC patients whose tumors revealed a higher level of SEZ6L2 expression suffered shorter tumor-specific survival compared to those with no SEZ6L2 expression. These results indicate that SEZ6L2 should be a useful prognostic marker of lung cancers. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 737,745) [source] Recent trends in the treatment of advanced lung cancerCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006Nagahiro Saijo Lung cancer is one of the major causes of death in many countries because of high rates of smoking, especially in Asian countries. Lung cancer is divided into two major categories based on their biological characteristics and the selection of treatment methods: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 85%) and small cell lung cancer (15%). Early detection and complete resection are very important in NSCLC, but the cure rate is not very high, except in stage 1A disease. It is extremely important to understand the biology of lung cancer and to introduce more effective treatments in order to improve the survival of NSCLC patients. Numerous clinical trials involving lung cancer patients have led to ,state-of-the-art' treatments for each stage of the disease. Progress in chemotherapy and molecular target based therapy have altered the standard therapy for NSCLC. (Cancer sci 2006; 97) [source] |