The Expression And Clinical Significance Of Fas And FasL In Small Cell Lung Cancer

ObjectiveTo study the expression and significance of Fas and FasL in small cell lung cancer and metastasis lymph node.MethodThe expression of Fas and FasL were detacted in 55 cases of small cell lung cancer and 34 cases of metastasis lymph nodes and 21 cases without lymph nodes metastasis and 25 cases of normal lung tissue by SP immunohistochemical technique. Standard of resulut:Fas or FasL expression were recorded as follows: Fas or FasL ( - ) , <5%. positive cells; ( + ) ,yellowish,5% -25% positive cells; ( + + ) ,yellow,25% -50%positive cells;( + + + ) ,brown or dark brown, > 50%. positive cells.ResultThe leve of Fas expression in small cell lung cancer were singnificantly lower than those of normal lung tissues ( p < 0. 01) , while the expression level of FasL were higher (p < 0. 01). The leve of Fas expression in small cell lung cancer metastasis lymph nodes were singnificantly lower than those of without metastasis lymph nodes (p <0.05). On the contract,Three was a singnificantly higher incidence of FasL expression in small cell lung cancer with metastasis lymph nodes compared with those without lymph nodes metastasis ( p < 0.01).The level of Fas expression were negatively related to that of FasL in in small cell lung cancer but have no relation in metastasis lymph nodes.ConclusionLower expression of Fas may work in coordination with over expressed FasL during the occurance, development and metastasis of small cell lung cancer. The expression of Fas and FasL in small cell lung cancer may play an important role in the escape of tumor cells from immune function and FasL is worthy of further research in metastasis of small cell lung cancer. Therefore, the combined assay may be helpful in predicting prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer.