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[Expression of heparanase in human non-small cell lung cancer]
1Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R.China.
Background:
To study the relationship between human heparanase expression and biological factors regarding invasion, metastasis and prognosis of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods:
The expression of heparanase was assessed in 122 paraffin-embedded specimens and 38 freshly-taken tissues by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The relationship between heparanase expression and the clinicopathological factors was analyzed by Chi square test, multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier method.
Results:
In the immunoreactive cells, staining was mainly located in cytoplasma and membrane. Human heparanase was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues (78.7%, 96/122) while negative in epithelia of normal lung tissues. The level of heparanase was remarkably higher in NSCLC than that in normal tissues ( P = 0.043 ). Expression of heparanase significantly correlated with TNM stage ( P =0.025), lymphatic metastasis ( P =0.002) and vascular invasion ( P =0.000 3). The patients with positive heparanase expression had a significantly shorter survival than those with negative heparanase expression ( P =0.000 6). In multivariate analysis, only p-TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis and vascular invasion could be considered as prognostic factors.
Conclusions:
Heparanase might play an important role in the development, invasion and metastasis of NSCLC. It is indicated that patients with positive heparanase expression would have a greater chance of metastasis and a poorer prognosis. However, heparanase expression is not an independent prognostic factor.