Abstract:

Objective   To detect the expressions of early region 1A factor (E1AF), matrilysin (MMP-7) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in non-small cell lung cancer tissues (NSCLC), and to study their relationships with the clinical and pathological features. Methods   The expressions of MMP-7 and uPA in 56 cases of NSCLC tissues and paired normal lung tissues were detected by SP immunohistochemical staining and examination on the expression of E1AFmRNA by RT-PCR assay. Results   The expressions of E1AFmRNA, MMP-7 and uPA in the tissues of NSCLC were significantly higher than those in the paired normal lung tissues(P＜0.01). There were also positive correlations between the expressions of E1AF and MMP-7, uPA in NSCLC(P＜0.05). The expressions of MMP-7 and uPA had no significant correlation(P＞0.05). The expression levels of E1AF, MMP-7 and uPA were closely related with clinical merger stages and lymph node metastasis, but had no relationship with histological classification. E1AF and MMP-7 were closely related with differentiations, and uPA was closely related with tumor size(P＜0.05). Conclusion   Abnormal expressions of E1AF, MMP-7 and uPA may play important roles in the infiltration and metastasis in NSCLC; E1AF may regulate the expressions of MMP-7 and uPA at transcription level; E1AF gene can be used as a new target gene for diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer; the united detection of E1AF, MMP-7 and uPA expressions may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of NSCLC.