Overexpression of the TXNDC5 protein in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Thioredoxin domain containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) is a member of the thioredoxin (Trx) domain-containing family of proteins that have been implicated in cancer progression. The expression of TXNDC5 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tumours compared to patient-matched normal lung tissue was determined and cell line models were used to determine if expression was regulated by hypoxia.

Samples of tumour and normal lung tissue were taken during surgery and immediately frozen. The expression of TXNDC5 was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. To analyse the effect of hypoxia on TXNDC5 expression NSCLC cell lines were used.

Tumours from 18/29 (62%) individuals exhibited an increase in TXNDC5 expression compared to normal lung tissue (p<0.05). TXNDC5 expression was not elevated by hypoxia.

TXNDC5 is up-regulated in the majority of resected human NSCLC. Cell line data indicates that the expression of TXNDC5 in tumour cells is not regulated by hypoxia.