Expression of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1(TTF-1)in Lung Carcinomas and Its Correlations with Apoptosis and Angiogenesis

摘要

OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlations between theexpression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and apoptosisand angiogenesis in lung carcinomas.METHODS A 829 microarray of the paraffin tissue chips wasconstructed, which contained 196 lung carcinomas, 10 normallung tissues, and 1 muscular tissue. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) andimmunohistochemical SP method were used to detect apoptosisand expression of TTF-1 and CD34 in different types of lungcarcinomas. A Leica Q500 MC image analysis system was used tomeasure and calculate TTF-1 positive unit (PU), apoptotic index(AI) and microvessel density (MVD).RESULTS AI of lung small cell carcinoma and large cellcarcinoma were smaller than those of lung adenocarcinoma andsquamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.000). AI of lung carcinomas withlymph node metastases was smaller than that of those without(P = 0.039). AI of lung carcinomas in TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ was smallerthan that in stage Ⅰ (P = 0.008). The PU of the TTF-1 was negativelycorrelated with AI in small cell lung carcinoma (r = -0.752, P =0.000). MVD of lung carcinomas without lymph node metastaseswas smaller than that of those with lymph node metastasis (P= 0.031). MVD of lung carcinomas in TNM stage Ⅰ was smallerthan that in stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ (P = 0.040). The PU of TTF-1 was positivelycorrelated with MVD in lung adenocarcinoma (r = 0.708, P = 0.000).CONCLUSION There is a negative correlation between TTF-1PU and AI in small cell lung carcinoma. TTF-1 PU and AI may becorrelated with each other. There is a positive correlation betweenTTF-1 PU and MVD in lung adenocarcinoma. TTF-1 may inducethe development of lung adenocarcinoma by inducing tumorangiogenesis.