Computed Tomography Manifestations and Excision Cross-Complementation Group 1 Expression of Stage I Non-Small-Cell...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) manifestations and expression of the excision cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and their correlation with prognosis in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A total of 133 patients with stage I NSCLC with complete 3- and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) data, who underwent thoracic CT and pathological examination, were included. Expression of ERCC1 in tumor samples was evaluated using semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis.

The 3- and 5-year DFS rates for the 133 patients were 72.2% and 60.9%, respectively, and the 3- and 5-year OS rates were 89.5% and 82.0%, respectively. Significant differences in the 3- and 5-year DFS occurred (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively), whereas no significant differences in the 3- and 5-year OS were found (P = 0.099 and P = 0.062, respectively) between high and low ERCC1 protein expression. Patients with high expression of ERCC1 had a better prognosis. There was a significant correlation between tumors with an irregular edge and signs of spiculation on CT and low expression of ERCC1 evaluated using logistic regression analysis (P < 0.05).

It was concluded that patients with stage I NSCLC with high ERCC1 expression had superior survival rates relative to those with low ERCC1 expression. Tumors with an irregular edge and signs of spiculation on CT were significantly correlated with low expression of ERCC1.