Estrogen receptor β and epidermal growth factor receptor as early-stage prognostic biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer.

As 20% of stage I NSCLC patients develop recurrent and often incurable cancer, the identification of prognostic markers has a meaningful clinical application. The biological significance of steroid hormone and EGF receptors, able to regulate key physiological functions, remains elusive in NSCLC. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic input of estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ), progesterone receptors (PR) and EGFR in tumors from 58 stage I NSCLC patients.

Mast cell phenotypes and microvessels in non-small cell lung cancer and its prognostic significance.

The impact of interstitial inflammatory cells, such as mast cells, and angiogenesis on the prognosis of cancer patients has been reported in many solid tumors, although there is disagreement about their role. We undertook a retrospective study with tissue samples from 65 patients with stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer to assess the clinical pathologic role and prognostic significance of mast cells. Mast cell phenotypes were identified by immunohistochemistry for tryptase and chymase.

[Retinoid expression (RARbeta and CRBP1) in non-small-cell lung carcinoma].

Although early-stage non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients have a relative by favorable prognosis, the risk of a bad outcome remains substantial. Identification of reliable prognostic markers for disease recurrence and death has meaningful clinical application. Retinoids are involved in cell growth and differentiation and may antagonize cancer progression.