Overexpression of MACC1 mRNA in lung adenocarcinoma is associated with postoperative recurrence.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the role and clinical significance of metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 in resected stage I non-small cell lung cancers.

Methods: Tumor specimens were collected from 146 consecutive patients who underwent a complete resection for stage I lung adenocarcinoma from 1998 to 2007 at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health. We analyzed the expression of metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 mRNA of primary lung adenocarcinomas by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The average postoperative observation period was 49.4 months. Thirteen (8.9%) of 146 patients had recurrences after surgery. Overexpression of metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 mRNA was identified in 62 patients (42.5%). Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 was overexpressed in 9 (69.2%) of 13 patients and 53 (39.9%) of 133 patients with and without recurrence, respectively (P = .004). The median metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 copy number was 3.0 and 1.4 in patients with and without tumor recurrence, respectively. Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 overexpression was associated with poorer disease-free survival according to the survival analysis (P = .033).

Conclusions: Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 gene overexpression may be a useful marker for predicting postoperative recurrence in patients with lung adenocarcinoma after surgery.