Maspin belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family and has been proven to be a suppressor of tumor growth and metastasis in many types of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of maspin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its relationship to vasculogenic mimicry (VM). A total of 160 specimens of NSCLC were involved in this study and 20 specimens of normal lung tissue served as controls. VM, microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of maspin were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that the positive rates of maspin and VM in the NSCLC group were 48.1% (77/160) and 36.9% (59/160), respectively, which were significantly different from those in the control group with the positive rates of maspin and VM being 100% and 0% respectively (P<0.05). VM, MVD and the expression level of maspin were significantly related to tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stages and postoperative survival time (all P<0.05). The maspin expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in those with adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). The maspin expression was negatively correlated with VM and MVD, and there was a positive correlation between VM and MVD. Maspin-negative expression, VM and high MVD score were negatively related to the 5-year-survival rate. PTNM stages, VM, MVD and maspin expression were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC (P<0.05). It was suggested that the loss of expression of maspin may participate in the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC and it has a positive relationship to VM in NSCLC. Combined detection of maspin, VM and MVD may help predict the progression and prognosis of NSCLC.
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