Aim: The present study aims at assessment of the role of Fragile Histidin
Triad (FHIT) tumor suppressor gene and p27 gene in the pathogenesis
of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) as well as their role in the behavior
of the examined cases.
Methods and Results' Fifty cases of NSCLC and 8 apparently normal
lung tissues were investigated immunohistochemically for the detection of
FHIT and p27 protein expression. The results showed that toss of FHIT
protein expression was found in 68% of the NSCLC cases. This was significantly
correlated with pathologic stage of the examined tumors
(p<0.05). Also FHIT expression was significantly reduced in NSCLC from
smokers than it was in tumors from nonsmokers (p <0.05). p27 was negative
and reduced in 84% of the NSCLC cases. The results showed also
an inversely proportionate correlation between p27 expression and
NSCLC grade which was statistically significant (P<0.05). Comparing the
immunostaining results of both p27 and FHIT in NSCLCs showing that
there was a highly significant positive correlation between their expression
in these neoplasms (p <0.01).
Conclusion: Both p27 alteration and reduced FHIT protein expression
might have an important role in the pathogenesis of NSCLC. Whether p27
alteration downregulate FHIT protein expression or alteration of both p27
and FHIT protein expression are coincidental independent turnorigenic
events, remains to be fully understood.
In cases of NSCLC, FTIIT gene might be the target of carcinogenesis in
cigarette smoke.
In spite of the significant correlation between reduced FHIT and p27
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Abd El-Latif M. El-Balshy et al...
protein expression compared with tumor stage and grade respectively,
their prognostic value in NSCLC remains to be established. |
