Relationship Between Expression Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor As Well As Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor And Chemotherapy Outcome In Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective We undertook to analyze the expression of the VEGF and EGFR by immunohistochmistry in the tumor tissue from 74 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The 74 patients received chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin and their therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Then investigate the relationship between VEGF expression as well as EGFR and chemotherapy outcome in non-small cell lung cancer, thereby to investigate it's meaning in the morbidity and progression of the disease.Methods 74 patients with NSCLC including 44 males and 30 females were all inⅢb orⅣstage and incompatible for surgery and had a definite pathological diagnosis and measurable metastases. Their karnofsky score>60, and their blood, liver, kidney function, ECG were normal.74 patients with NSCLC received chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2) every 21 days as a cycle. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Expression of VEGF and EGFR in tissue samples from NSCLC were investigated with immunohistochmistry.Therapeutic efficacy was in accordance with RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumor), including complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD). The effective rate was referred to (CR+PR), and DCR disease control rate was (CR+PR+SD). Patients were well follow-up after treatment.Results The overall response rate of chemotherapy for NSCLC was 32.4%. There was no significant difference in response rate between NSCLC patients with positive VEGF expression and patients with negative VEGF expression. The response rate in EGFR positive patients was significantly lower than patients with negative EGFR expression.Logistic regression analysis revealed that EGFR positive rate in squamous lung cancer was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma of lung, but the difference can't influence the sensibility of chemotherapy. The response rate in EGFR positive patients was significantly lower than patients with negative EGFR expression. EGFR had an apparent effect on chemotherapy efficacy in NSCLC patients. (OR=0.474). EGFR can be used as a predictive index for prognosis and sensitivity of chemotherapy.Conclusion The chemotherapy plan can significantly influence the recovery and survival rate of a variety of tumors, including NSCLC. Some patients are not sensitive to certain chemotherapy regimens, and it is too late when we find it's ineffective at the end of chemotherapy. The evaluation of sensitivity for chemotherapy before treatment is useful to find the sensitive ones and avoid unnecessary chemotherapy and treatment delay. Our study suggests that:EGFR could be used as an indicator of prognosis and sensitivity to chemotherapy. The detection of EGFR is useful for individualized treatment of lung cancer patients.