The Relationship Between Expression Of PTEN Protein And Proliferation Index And Microvessel Density In Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective To study the expression of PTEN as well as their relationship with the clinicopathological features and proliferation index(PI) and microvessel density(MVD) in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The expressions of PTEN protein and proliferation cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and CD34 were examined with immunohistochemical PV6000 method in 43 cases of NSCLC and 12 specimens of normal lung tissues . The PI and MVD in the tumors were defined.Results The positive rate of PTEN protein was significantly lower in patient with NSCLC than that in normal lung tissues (46.5% vs. 83.3%, x2=5.13, P< 0.05). The expression of PTEN protein had no relationship with clinicopathological factors including age, sex, tumor size, TNM stage and histological type of NSCLC(x2=l.08-2.73,P> 0.95). The expression of PTEN protein was well correlated with the differentiation , lymph node metastasis and 3-year survival rate of patients (x2=8.50,5.31,6.57; P< 0.01, 0.05). An inverse correlation was found between PTEN protein expression and PI and MVD in NSCLC(r=-0.53,-0.87, t=5.92, 8.82; P<0.01).Conclusion The PTEN gene mutation and/or deletions might be responsible for tumor occurrence and progression and angiogenesis in NSCLC . The expression of PTEN protein can be good molecular biological indicator for judging proliferation, differentiation degree , lymph node metastasis and prognosis of patients with NSCLC...