Soluble major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (sMICA) is a useful marker in surveillance of lung cancer. High serum sMICA level in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) seems to be a poor prognostic factor being correlated with poor differentiation and advanced stage. However, the low specificity limits its role as a single prognostic marker of NSCLC, but its evaluation, in addition to standard serum markers, could improve the staging of NSCLC. Despite promising, all current studies are insufficient to assess the real efficiency of sMICA as a prognostic marker of NSCLC, and hence, future studies are required to validate it.
Keywords: MICA; MICB; NSCLC; prognostic factor.