E-Cadherin and Syndecan-1 Expression in Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether E-cadherin and syndecan-1 are molecular markers of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods: The expression of E-cadherin and syndecan-1 (SDC1) was examined immunohistochemically on tissue specimens of 64 patients, with stage III disease at presentation. The obtained expression data were correlated with clinical parameters.

Results: Negative expression of SDC1 was correlated with squamous histology (p=0.002). E-cadherin positive expression was significantly associated with increased 2-year overall survival (OS) rate (p=0.032). In the multivariate Cox analysis, performance status 0-1 was an independent predictor of OS (p=0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.001). E-cadherin expression was an independent predictor of OS (p=0.007) and DFS (p=0.029).

Conclusion: E-cadherin might be a prognostic factor for OS and DFS in advanced stage NSCLC patients. Further investigations are needed for the establishment of E-cadherin and syndecan-1 as molecular markers, affecting treatment response and survival.

Keywords: E-cadherin; NSCLC; immunohistochemistry; radiotherapy; syndecan-1.