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Shinya Ishikawa

Publications and source records attributed to Shinya Ishikawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Large cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine morphology of the lung.

We experienced a surgical case of large cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine morphology (LCCNM) of the lung. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because a routine chest X-ray examination had revealed a nodular shadow in the left lung field. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in an area corresponding to the shadow. Transbronchial lung biopsy failed to give a definitive diagnosis, therefore open lung biopsy was performed because of suspected lung cancer. Needle biopsy was performed, and the tumor was diagnosed as large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma by rapid intraoperative pathological examination. As sampling of hilar lymph nodes revealed no metastasis, left upper segmentectomy was performed for severe obstructive pulmonary disease. Immunohistochemical examination finally diagnosed the tumor as LCCNM. The patient is doing well without recurrence at ten months after surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Wnt5a expression is associated with the tumor proliferation and the stromal vascular endothelial growth factor--an expression in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The Wnt gene family encodes the multifunctional signaling glycoproteins. We performed the present study to investigate the clinical significance of Wnt5a expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients with NSCLC who had undergone resection were investigated. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the Wnt5a gene expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the Wnt5a protein expression, the Ki-67 proliferation index, tumor angiogenesis, and the expression of beta-catenin and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). RESULTS: Wnt5a gene expression in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma (P < .0001). There was a significant correlation between the normalized Wnt5a gene expression ratio and the intratumoral Wnt5a protein expression (r = 0.729; P < .0001). The intratumoral Wnt5a expression was significantly correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index (r = 0.708; P < .0001). In contrast, no correlation was observed between the intratumoral Wnt5a expression and tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, the intratumoral Wnt5a expression was significantly correlated with the stromal expression of beta-catenin (r = 0.729; P < .0001) and VEGF-A (r = 0.661; P < .0001). In addition, the stromal VEGF-A expression was also correlated with Ki-67 proliferation (r = 0.627; P < .0001). Cox regression analyses demonstrated Wnt5a status to be a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC patients (P = .0193), especially for patients with squamous cell carcinomas (P = .0491). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that an overexpression of Wnt5a could produce more aggressive NSCLC, especially in squamous cell carcinomas, during tumor progression.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic significance of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs expression in resected pathologic stage IIIA N2 non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is a novel membrane-anchored matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, and experimental studies have shown that RECK can suppress tumor progression through angiogenesis inhibition. We have already revealed that enhanced RECK expression is significantly correlated with a favorable prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, further analyses focused on pN2 disease were conducted to assess the clinical significance of RECK expression. METHODS: A total of 118 patients with completely resected pathologic stage IIIA N2 NSCLC were retrospectively examined. RECK expression in the primary tumor, along with involved N2 nodes, was examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: RECK expression in the primary tumor was strong in 53 patients (44.9%) and was weak in the other 65 patients. The 5-year survival rate of patients with RECK-strong tumor (42.9%) was significantly higher than that of patients with RECK-weak tumor (23.1%; P = .017). Reduced RECK expression significantly correlated with a poor prognosis for patients with a single N2 node involved (P = .019), but not for patients with multiple N2 nodes involved (P = .440). A multivariate analysis confirmed that reduced RECK expression was an independent and significant factor to predict a poor prognosis (P = .031). RECK expression in involved N2 nodes was significantly higher than in primary tumors (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: RECK status was a novel prognostic factor in pathologic stage IIIA N2 NSCLC.

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PubMed2005

Expression of MDA-7/IL-24 and its clinical significance in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7) protein, also known as interleukin (IL)-24, is a novel candidate of tumor suppressor that can induce apoptosis experimentally in a variety of human malignant cells including lung cancer cells. However, only one clinical study has documented that MDA-7/IL-24 expression is down-regulated with progression of melanoma. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the clinical significance of MDA-7/IL-24 expression in non-small cell lung cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A total of 183 consecutive patients with resected pathologic stage I-IIIA, non-small cell lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect MDA-7/IL-24 expression. RESULTS: MDA-7/IL-24 expression was high in 97 (53.0%) patients and low in the other patients. There was no significant correlation between MDA-7/IL-24 status and any patients' characteristic including pathologic stage. There was no significant difference in tumor angiogenesis or proliferative activity according to MDA-7/IL-24 status, but MDA-7/IL-24-high adenocarcinoma showed a significantly higher incidence of apoptotic tumor cell death than MDA-7/IL-24-low adenocarcinoma. MDA-7/IL-24-high patients seemed to show a favorable postoperative prognosis as compared with MDA-7/IL-24-low patients (5-year survival rates, 75.9% and 62.0%, respectively), although the difference did not reach a statistical significance (P = 0.061). Subset analyses showed that positive MDA-7/IL-24 expression was a significant factor to predict a favorable prognosis in adenocarcinoma (P = 0.033), which was confirmed by a multivariate analysis; there was no difference in the prognosis according to MDA-7/IL-24 status in squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: MDA-7/IL-24 status was a significant prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma, not in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Successful treatment of massive bleeding into the open thoracotomy space by pulmonary artery occlusion: report of a case.

A 69-year-old man underwent decortication and latissimus dorsi muscle transposition for the treatment of chronic empyema in January 2001. The empyema recurred in March 2002, and open drainage was thus started in July 2002. In February 2003, massive hemorrhaging from the thoracic cavity occurred. Tamponade and hemostasis were performed immediately, and angiography revealed bleeding from the pulmonary artery (PA). After identification of the bleeding point, surgical hemostasis was successfully achieved following PA occlusion with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Successful treatment for lung cancer associated with pulmonary sequestration.

We encountered a 69-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary sequestration. The cancer lesion was located in the left upper lobe, with sequestration of the left lower lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed after induction chemoradiotherapy, but the sequestered lung lobe was preserved because the preoperative respiratory function was poor. Preservation of the sequestered lung during surgery for lung cancer should be considered in patients who have poor respiratory function and no signs of respiratory infection.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 status in stromal fibroblasts, not in tumor cells, is a significant prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to assess clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 status, especially MMP-2 status, in stromal cells in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because experimental studies have revealed that stromal MMP-2 plays important roles in progression of malignant tumors, but most clinical studies focused on tumoral MMP-2 expression, not stromal MMP-2 expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression as evaluated immunohistochemically in a total of 218 consecutive patients with completely resected pathological stage I-IIIA, NSCLC. RESULTS: Strong MMP-2 expression in tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts were documented in 54 (24.8%) and 132 (60.6%) patients, respectively. Strong MMP-2 expression in stromal fibroblasts was more frequently seen in squamous cell carcinoma (72.7%) than in adenocarcinoma (54.9%; P = 0.016). Tumors showing strong MMP-2 expression in stromal fibroblasts showed a significantly higher intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) than weak stromal MMP-2 tumors (mean intratumoral microvessel density, 50.9 versus 32.4, P = 0.003). In addition, postoperative prognosis of strong stromal MMP-2 patients was significantly poorer than that of weak stromal MMP-2 patients (5-year survival rate, 77.5 versus 60.2%, P = 0.032), and the prognostic significance was enhanced in squamous cell carcinoma patients but disappeared in adenocarcinoma patients. Multivariate analyses confirmed that strong stromal MMP-2 expression was a significant factor to predict a poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma patients, not in adenocarcinoma patients. In contrast, MMP-2 or MMP-9 status in tumor cells was not a significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2 status in stromal fibroblasts, not in tumor cells, was a significant prognostic factor associated with angiogenesis in NSCLC.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2004

Prognostic factors in resected pathologic (p-) stage IIIA-N2, non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative prognosis for patients with pathologic (p-) stage IIIA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, and significant factors that influence the prognosis remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 99 patients who underwent complete resection for p-stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC without any preoperative therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Biological features such as tumor angiogenesis (intratumoral microvessel density [IMVD]), proliferative activity (proliferative index [PI]), and p53 status were also evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that the number of involved N2 stations was a significant prognostic factor; 5-year survival rates for a tumor with metastases in single N2 stations, tumor with metastases in two N2 stations, and tumor with metastases in 3 or more N2 stations were 41.6%, 35.3%, and 0.0%, respectively (P =.041) In addition, the 5-year survival rate for cN0-1 disease was significantly higher than that for cN2 disease (41.9% and 25.5%, respectively; P =.048) Tumor angiogenesis and proliferative activity were the most significant prognostic factors; 5-year survival rates for lower-IMDV tumor and higher-IMVD tumor were 53.6% and 15.9%, respectively (P =.002), and those for lower-PI tumor and higher-PI tumor were 47.0% and 20.4%, respectively (P =.019) There was no difference in the postoperative survival between tumor showing aberrant p53 expression and tumor showing no aberrant p53 expression. These results were confirmed by a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: P-stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC cases represented a mixture of heterogeneous prognostic subgroups, and the number of involved N2 stations, cN status, PI, and IMVD were significant predictors of the survival.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2004

Clinical analysis of interstitial pneumonia after surgery for lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The postoperative development or exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in lung cancer patients often affects prognoses. We analyzed the patients who suffered from IP after surgery, to determine treatment and prevention of IP. METHODS: One hundred and one consecutive patients who underwent resection were enrolled in the study. Clinical background and post-, perioperative course were compared between patients who developed IP and those who did not. RESULTS: If IP developed or was exacerbated, steroid pulse (SP) therapy, immunosuppressant (IS) therapy or nitric oxide (NO) inhalation therapy was employed. Of 101 patients, 20 had suffered from IP before surgery. In four of these 20 (20%), postoperative exacerbation was observed. SP therapy was given to all patients. To one patient, IS and NO therapy were added. Three of the four patients died. 81 patients did not have IP; three of them (3.7%) developed IP after the operation and were treated with SP therapy. To one patient, IS and NO therapy were added. Two of the three patients died. IP development or exacerbation after surgery was observed in seven of 101 patients, and five of them died. It was significantly more frequent in patients with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, restrictive change in pulmonary function tests, and a low percentage diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide. Postoperative development or exacerbation was observed in patients who had undergone lobectomy or pneumonectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative IP is a serious complication. Further studies are needed to determine definitive therapeutic options. For the patients with the aforementioned risk factors, limited surgery must be considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration for tuberculous pericardial effusion.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted with chest discomfort and general fatigue. She was diagnosed as having cardiac tamponade with massive pericardial effusion. Percutaneous pericardiocentesis yielded bloody effusion. Tuberculous pericarditis was suspected owing to the adenosine deaminase level in this fluid. Video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration (VATSPF) was performed for the diagnosis and treatment. Polymerase chain reaction detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in the pericardial tissues, confirming the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis. She received a combination of three-kind medication and anti-tuberculous regimen, and a follow-up check up for more than 2 years, exhibiting a good postoperative course. We conclude that VATSPF can be a useful procedure not only for diagnosis but for release of tuberculous pericarditis with cardiac tamponade and for prophylaxis of constrictive pericarditis.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Expression of a novel matrix metalloproteinase regulator, RECK, and its clinical significance in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

The reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) was initially isolated as a transformation-suppressor gene by expression cloning and found to encode a membrane-anchored regulator of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Experimental studies have shown that RECK can suppress tumour - invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the clinical impact of RECK remains unclear. To assess the clinical significance of RECK-expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a total of 171 patients with completely resected pathological stage (p-stage) I-IIIA NSCLC were retrospectively examined. Expression of RECK and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumour tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical staining (IHS). Intratumoural microvessel density (IMVD), a measurement of angiogenesis, was also determined by IHS using an anti-CD34 antibody. A significant inverse correlation between RECK-expression and tumour angiogenesis was documented; the mean IMVD in tumours with strong RECK-expression (157.1) was significantly lower than that observed in tumours with weak RECK-expression (194.5; P = 0.008). Interestingly, this inverse correlation was seen only when VEGF was strongly expressed, which suggests that RECK could suppress the angiogenesis induced by VEGF. The 5-year survival rate for patients with tumours with strong RECK-expression (75.8%) was significantly higher than that for patients with weakly expressing tumours (54.3%; P = 0.016). Subset analyses showed that the prognostic impact of RECK-status was evident in patients with either adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated tumours, or p-stage IIIA disease. A multivariate analysis confirmed that reduced RECK-expression was an independent and significant factor in predicting a poor prognosis (P = 0.009; Hazard ratio (HR), 0.474 with a 95% Confidence interval (CI) of 0.271-0.830). In conclusion, RECK-status is a significant prognostic factor correlated with tumour angiogenesis in NSCLC patients.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2004

Expression of thymidylate synthase is correlated with proliferative activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Many experimental studies have revealed that enhanced thymidylate synthase (TS) expression is significantly correlated with higher proliferative activity of tumor cells, which may account for a poor prognosis of high-TS patients. However, only a few clinical studies have focused on the correlation between TS status and cell proliferation. Therefore, we assessed the correlation between TS expression and proliferative index (PI) as a marker of cell proliferation or p53 status in a total of 109 patients with completely resected pathologic stage I, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PI was defined as the percentage of tumor cells with positive staining against proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The mean PIs of TS-high and TS-low tumors were 48.2% and 34.4% respectively, showing a significantly higher proliferative activity of TS-high tumor (P=0.020); when stratified according to histological type, the difference was significant in adenocarcinoma (P=0.038), but not in squamous cell carcinoma. There was no significant correlation between TS expression and p53 status. In conclusion, tumor cells with higher TS expression have higher proliferative activity in NSCLC, especially in adenocarcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Expression of LUN gene that encodes a novel RING finger protein is correlated with development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer.

LUN is a novel RING finger protein that is highly expressed in the lung and might be a transcriptional regulator of E-cadherin [J. Biol. Chem. 276 (2001) 14004]. It might be possible that LUN plays important roles in the development and progression of lung cancer through regulating expression of E-cadherin, but no clinical study on LUN expression has been reported. In the present study, we quantitatively examined gene expression of the LUN in surgical specimens resected from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In normal lung tissues, the LUN gene expression was down-regulated in smokers (the mean LUN/GAPDH ratios, 0.222 for non-smokers and 0.144 for smokers; P = 0.030). In addition, the mean LUN/GAPDH ratio in lung cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in normal lung tissues (0.072 versus 0.162; P < 0.001). In addition, the LUN gene expression was slightly down-regulated along with progression of primary tumors, and strongly down-regulated along with nodal metastases (the mean LUN/GAPDH ratios, 0.091 for pN0, 0.073 for pN1, and 0.034 for pN2 diseases; P = 0.001). These results suggested that LUN might play important roles in inhibition of nodal metastases as well as in suppression of smoking-related oncogenesis in NSCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Glomeruloid microvascular proliferation is superior to intratumoral microvessel density as a prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Glomeruloid microvascular proliferation (GMP) is a focal proliferative budding of endothelial cells (ECs) resembling a renal glomerulus. Whereas some experimental and clinical studies have suggested recently that GMPs indicate an aggressive angiogenic phenotype, the incidence and clinical significance of GMPs remains unclear. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study on GMPs in a total of 236 patients with completely resected pathological (p-) stage I-IIIA NSCLC. ECs were highlighted with immunohistochemical staining using an anti-CD34 antibody, and GMPs were defined as focal glomerulus-like aggregates of closely associated and multilayer CD34-positive ECs. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, and Ang-2 was also examined immunohistochemically. GMPs were positive in 60 (25.4%) patients, and the incidence was not correlated with age, gender, histological type, or p-stage. The mean intratumoral microvessel densities for GMP-negative tumor and GMP-positive tumor were 178.2 and 184.1, respectively, showing that the incidence of GMPs was not correlated with intratumoral microvessel density (P = 0.676). There was no correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and the incidence of GMPs, but GMPs were more frequently seen in Ang-1-positive tumor than in Ang-1-negative tumor. The 5-year survival rate of GMP-positive patients was 54.2%, which was significantly lower than that of GMP-negative patients (72.3%; P = 0.016). The 5-year survival rate of higher-MVD patients (71.5%) seemed to be lower than that of the lower-MVD patients (63.7%), but the difference did not reach a statistical significance (P = 0.137). A multivariate analysis confirmed that the presence of GMPs was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.003), whereas MVD was not. In conclusion, GMPs indicate an aggressive angiogenic phenotype associated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed2003

Elevated serum progastrin-releasing peptide (31-98) level is a predictor of short response duration after hormonal therapy in metastatic prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The neuroendocrine (NE) pathway has been attracting attention as a mechanism for the androgen-independent progression because the neuropeptide provokes tumor growth and inhibits apoptosis under androgen-deprived milieu in prostate cancer cells. On the basis that serum progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) is elevated in patients with advanced disease stage, we examined the prognostic value of the neuropeptide. METHODS: Serum ProGRP status was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 460 men with benign and malignant prostatic diseases, chronic renal failure, and healthy controls. Seventy patients with metastatic prostate cancer including four patients (5.7%) with NE carcinoma who underwent hormonal therapy were enrolled in the prognostic analyses by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The serum status steadily shifted toward predominant expression of ProGRP with the progression of prostate cancer into metastatic and androgen-independent stages. Univariate analysis revealed that the deteriorated performance status (PS) and extent of bony disease (EOD), and high serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum ProGRP, and nadir prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were associated with a lower progression-free survival (PFS) rate (P < 0.005). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PS, serum ProGRP, and nadir PSA held an independent predictive value for PFS (P < 0.05), and all correlated with bone-related factors. Serum ProGRP was the most significant predictor among pre-treatment factors in this model (P = 0.0094). CONCLUSIONS: The neuropeptide precursor ProGRP is a distinct serum marker that is useful to know the NE milieu and provides prognostic information in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Standard therapy for metastatic prostate cancer may make progress when further studies will clarify the causative link between serum ProGRP level and androgen-independent disease progression.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Correlation between apoptotic index and angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer: comparison between CD105 and CD34 as a marker of angiogenesis.

Only a few clinical studies have documented a significant correlation between intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD), a measurement of angiogenesis, and apoptotic index (AI), an incidence of apoptosis, although many experimental studies have confirmed that insufficient angiogenesis induces accelerated apoptotic cell death. In the present study, therefore, to assess AI in correlation with IMVD in resected non-small cell lung cancer, a total of 236 patients with pathologic stage I to IIIa were reviewed. IMVDs were determined immunohistochemically with an antibody against a pan-endothelial marker, CD34 (CD34-IMVD), and an antibody against a proliferation-related endothelial marker, CD105 (CD105-IMVD). AI was defined as the number of tumor cells positive for the terminal deoxynucleotidyl tranferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling staining per 1000 tumor cells. When CD34 was used as a marker of angiogenesis, the mean AIs for the lower-IMVD and the higher-IMVD patients were 20.1 and 17.5, respectively, demonstrating no significant difference between the lower- and the higher-IMVD patients. In contrast, when CD105 was used, the mean AI for the lower-IMVD patients was significantly higher than that for the higher-IMVD patients (22.0 and 15.6, respectively; P=0.019). There was no significant correlation between proliferative activity and CD34-IMVD or CD105-IMVD. These results demonstrated that that decreased angiogenesis may induce enhanced apoptotic tumor-cell death without affecting cell proliferation.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Expression of angiopoietins and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 have been recently identified as potent angiogenic factors which function in concert with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but no detailed clinical study on Ang expression has been reported. To assess the clinical significance of Ang expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a total of 236 patients with pathological stage-I-IIIA disease were retrospectively reviewed. Expression of Ang-1, Ang-2, or VEGF was examined immunohistochemically; intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) was examined with immunohistochemical staining against CD34, a marker of pan-endothelial cells (CD34-IMVD), and that against CD105, a marker of proliferative endothelial cells (CD105-IMVD). Positive expression of Ang-1 and that of Ang-2 were seen in 101 (42.8%) and 40 patients (16.9%), respectively. There was no significant correlation between Ang-1 expression and CD34-IMVD or CD105-IMVD. In contrast, the average CD105-IMVD for Ang-2-positive tumor was significantly higher than that for Ang-2-negative tumor (56.7 versus 38.5; P = 0.032). More interestingly, such an angiogenic effect of Ang-2 was seen only when VEGF expression was high; when VEGF expression was high, the average CD105-IMVD for Ang-2-positive tumor was significantly higher than that for Ang-2-negative tumor (89.1 versus 63.6; P = 0.045); when VEGF expression was low, the average CD105-IMVD for Ang-2-positive tumor and that for Ang-2-negative tumor were almost the same (27.4 and 27.1, respectively). Moreover, positive expression of Ang-2, not Ang-1, was a significant factor to predict a poor postoperative survival (5-year survival rates for Ang-2-positive patients and -negative patients were 53.5 and 70.3%, respectively; P = 0.027), which was confirmed by a multivariate analysis. The influence of Ang-2 status on postoperative survival was enhanced when VEGF expression was high. That said, the 5-year survival of Ang-2-positive and VEGF-high patients was extremely low (41.4%) as compared with that for Ang-2-negative and VEGF-low patients (66.6%), as compared with that for Ang-2-positive and VEGF-low patients (63.6%), and as compared with that for Ang-2-negative and VEGF-low patients (71.8%). In conclusion, positive Ang-2 expression was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis, as well as with aggressive angiogenesis in resected NSCLC that was enhanced in the presence of high VEGF expression.

Aged↗