[Prognostic value of MACC1 and c-met expressions in non-small cell lung cancer].

Background: It has been proven that metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is a new gene that is related to the invasion and metastasis of tumors. MACC1 also regulates c-met expression. The aim of this study is to explore the expressions of MACC1 and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-met), and its relationship with invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: MACC1 and c-met expressions were detected in 103 cases of NSCLC and 40 cases of neighboring normal lung cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry.

Results: MACC1 and c-met expressions were significantly higher in lung cancer tissues than that in neighboring normal tissue (P<0.001). MACC1 and c-met expressions were associated with poor differentiation, advanced T stages, lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stages (P<0.05) of NSCLC, but not with sex, age, smoking, and histological classification (P>0.05). In addition, a positive correlation between MACC1 and c-met expressions was observed (r=0.403, P<0.001). The result from the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the five-year survival rate in patients with positive MACC1 and c-met expressions was remarkanly lower than that in patients with negative expressions (P<0.05). The result from the Cox regression analysis showed that MACC1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC (P=0.026).

Conclusions: MACC1 and c-met have an important function in the differentiation, invasion, and metastasis of NSCLC. MACC1 and c-met have poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Moreover, MACC1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC.