Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression in primary non-small cell lung cancer

摘要

Aim: To investigate whether nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression is associated with distinctrnclinicopathological parameters and TP53 expression in a representative series of primary non-small cell lungrncancer (NSCLC). Methods: Tissue microarrays (n = 487) were used to immunohistochemically analyse expression of Maspinrnand TP53. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of Maspin was scored on the basis of the percentage ofrnpositive tumour cells. Univariate analysis of clinicopathological variables potentially affecting tumour-specificrnsurvival was performed. Results: Immunohistochemical Maspin expression (nuclear and cytoplasmic) was informative in 72.3% (352/rn487) of cases. Cytoplasmic and nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity in ≥ 10% of tumour cells was detected inrn37.8% (133/352) and 65.3% (230/352) of informative cases, respectively. Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspinrnstaining was observed more frequently in primary squamous cell carcinomas than in other lung cancer types.rnOnly nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity was significantly associated with positive TP53 staining. Cytoplasmicrnor nuclear Maspin expression was not associated with tumour-specific survival. Conclusion: Maspin expression was found both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of NSCLC, more frequentlyrnin squamous cell carcinomas. However, no association with tumour-specific survival could be demonstrated.