Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression in primary non-small cell lung cancer
Matthias Woenckhaus 1*, Lukas Bubendorf 2, Peter Dalquen 3, Julia Foerster 1, Hagen Blaszyk 4, Martina Mirlacher 5, Markus Soler 6, Wolfgang Dietmaier 1, Guido Sauter 5, Arndt Hartmann 1 and Peter J. Wild 7
1 Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Germany
2 Institute of Pathology, University of Basel, Switzerland
3 Institute of Pathology, University of Basel
4 Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, United States
5 Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
6 Pulmonary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Basel
7 Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: matthias.woenckhaus{at}klinik.uni-r.de.
Accepted 27 February 2006
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Abstract |
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Aim: This study investigated whether nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression is associated with distinct clinicopathologic parameters and TP53 expression in a representative series of primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: Tissue microarrays (n = 487) were used to immunohistochemically analyze expression of Maspin and TP53. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of Maspin was scored based on the percentage of positive tumor cells. Univariate analysis of clinicopathologic variables potentially impacting tumor-specific survival was performed.
Results: Immunohistochemical Maspin expression (nuclear and cytoplasmic) was informative in 72.3% (352/487). Cytoplasmic and nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity in "d10% of tumor cells was detected in 37.8% (133/352) and 65.3% (230/352) of informative cases, respectively. Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin staining was observed more frequently in primary squamous cell carcinomas, compared to other lung cancer types. Only nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity was significantly associated with positive TP53 staining. Cytoplasmic or nuclear Maspin expression was not associated with tumor-specific survival.
Conclusion: Maspin expression was found both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of NSCLC, more frequently in squamous cell carcinomas. However, no association with tumor-specific survival could be demonstrated.
Key Words:
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Genes, p53, Immunohistochemistry, Maspin
