Background and objective: The catalytic reaction of Pin1 (peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1) is a signal pathway for changing the functions of phosphorylated proteins, which plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Pin1 is called the catalytic molecule for tumorigenesis. This study was to detect the expression of Pin1 mRNA in blood samples from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and explore its significance.
Methods: Twenty-six NSCLC patients who underwent radical resection were assigned to pulmonary artery first ligation group (PA-first group) and pulmonary vein first ligation group (PV-first group). The blood samples were collected before operation (after anesthesia), during operation from the proximal part and distal part of the pulmonary vein when it was ligated, and at 7 days later. Additionally, ten patients with benign lung disease who underwent resection served as disease control, and ten healthy subjects served as negative control. The expression of Pin1 in the blood samples was detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results: The mRNA level of Pin1 was obviously higher in blood samples from NSCLC patients than in those from benign lung disease patients and healthy subjects: it in NSCLC group was 1.69-34.78 times of that in negative control group. It was associated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage of NSCLC (p=0.043, p=0.038). The mRNA level of Pin1 was significantly higher in the distal part of the pulmonary vein than in the proximal part (p=0.019), and was significantly lower at 7 days after operation than before operation (p=0.031). There was no significant difference between PA-first group and PV-first group (p=0.082, p=0.106).
Conclusion: Pin1 is overexpressed in circulation of NSCLC, and may be used as a tumor marker or as a target for cancer therapy.