Biomaterial Database

Transferrin receptor expression in nonsmall cell lung cancer. Histopathologic and clinical correlates. 1995

J F Whitney, and J M Clark, and T W Griffin, and S Gautam, and K O Leslie

Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405-0068, USA.

BACKGROUND In the search for tumor-related antigens with survival-predictive value, previous studies have yielded varied conclusions regarding the expression of one such antigen, the transferrin receptor in lung cancer. The goal of this study was to define the frequency of expression of transferrin receptor in lung cancer specimens and gather preliminary data regarding the prognostic value of this tumor-related antigen. METHODS Tissue immunoreactivity was studied with a murine monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer who underwent surgical resection at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont during the period from January, 1988, to May, 1991. RESULTS The study group consisted of 32 patients (21 males and 11 females) with an average follow-up length of 27 months (standard deviation of 16 months). There were 17 patients with adenocarcinoma, 14 with squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 with large cell carcinoma. At the end of data accumulation, a total of 16 deaths had been recorded (8 with squamous cell, 8 with adenocarcinoma). Normal lung tissue did not stain for transferrin receptor; however, 13 of 17 (76%) adenocarcinomas, 13 of 14 (93%) squamous cell carcinomas, and the 1 large cell carcinoma stained positively for transferrin receptor. Staining for transferrin receptor was graded according to pattern and intensity and categorized as absent-weak or strong. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate patient outcome based on a variety of clinical and experimentally determined characteristics. Groups based on N-status (N0 vs. N1 + N2, P = 0.08), stage (Stage 1 vs. Stage 2 + 3 P = 0.13), age (younger than 60 vs. 60 years or older, P = 0.09), and transferrin receptor staining (absent-weak vs. strong, P = 0.14) achieved nearly significant differences in survival. Further analysis of the differences in survival for groupings based on transferrin receptor staining found that these differences in survival reached significance for patients with larger tumors (T2 or T3, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Transferrin receptor is expressed in the majority of lung cancers and the presence of transferrin receptor in nonsmall cell lung cancers may be an indicator of poorer prognosis in certain groups of patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008175	Lung Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the LUNG.	Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D011990	Receptors, Transferrin	Membrane glycoproteins found in high concentrations on iron-utilizing cells. They specifically bind iron-bearing transferrin, are endocytosed with its ligand and then returned to the cell surface where transferrin without its iron is released.	Transferrin Receptors,Transferrin Receptor,Receptor, Transferrin
D002294	Carcinoma, Squamous Cell	A carcinoma derived from stratified SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS. It may also occur in sites where glandular or columnar epithelium is normally present. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Carcinoma, Epidermoid,Carcinoma, Planocellular,Carcinoma, Squamous,Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Carcinomas, Epidermoid,Carcinomas, Planocellular,Carcinomas, Squamous,Carcinomas, Squamous Cell,Epidermoid Carcinoma,Epidermoid Carcinomas,Planocellular Carcinoma,Planocellular Carcinomas,Squamous Carcinoma,Squamous Carcinomas,Squamous Cell Carcinomas
D005260	Female		Females
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000230	Adenocarcinoma	A malignant epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenocarcinoma, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinoma, Tubular,Adenoma, Malignant,Carcinoma, Cribriform,Carcinoma, Granular Cell,Carcinoma, Tubular,Adenocarcinomas,Adenocarcinomas, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinomas, Tubular,Adenomas, Malignant,Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma,Basal Cell Adenocarcinomas,Carcinomas, Cribriform,Carcinomas, Granular Cell,Carcinomas, Tubular,Cribriform Carcinoma,Cribriform Carcinomas,Granular Cell Adenocarcinoma,Granular Cell Adenocarcinomas,Granular Cell Carcinoma,Granular Cell Carcinomas,Malignant Adenoma,Malignant Adenomas,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinoma,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Adenocarcinoma,Tubular Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Carcinoma,Tubular Carcinomas