Clinical significance of aminopeptidase N in non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of our study is to investigate the mechanism of metastasis, to detect novel metastasis-associated molecules, and to evaluate the molecules from the point of view of clinical application. A monoclonal antibody MH8-11, which we established, recognizes a glycoprotein that is identical to aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13). APN/CD13 degrades the extracellular matrix, while it is also involved in cell motility and improves angiogenesis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

We investigated the expression of APN/CD13 in 194 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by immunohistochemical analyses and reverse transcription-PCR assay to determine the significance of this prognostic factor; 95 tumors were stage I, 36 were stage II, 39 were stage IIIA, and 24 were stage IIIB. Moreover, we investigated that the relationship between the expression of APN/CD13 and angiogenesis and prognosis for patients with NSCLC.

RESULTS:

We found a correlation between the expression of APN/CD13 and angiogenesis (r = 0.659; P < 0.0001). In the 194 patients with NSCLC, we found 68 patients to be APN/CD13+ and 126 patients to be APN/CD13-. The 5-year survival rate in patients with APN/CD13+ tumors was significantly lower than in those whose tumors had negative APN/CD13 (48.3% versus 67.1%; P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION:

Our data suggest the expression of APN/CD13 for patients with NSCLC to be associated with a poor prognosis and angiogenesis. This is the first study to show the relationship between the expression of APN/CD13 and the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. The inhibition of APN/CD13 may be an effective new molecular target therapy for patients with NSCLC.

• Authors: Takahiro Tokuhara, Noboru Hattori, Hisao Ishida, Tatsuya Hirai, Masahiko Higashiyama, Ken Kodama, Masayuki Miyake
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 12 Issue 13 Pg. 3971-8 (Jul 01 2006) ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16818694 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• CD13 Antigens

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• CD13 Antigens (analysis, genetics)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (diagnosis, enzymology, surgery)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Female
• Flow Cytometry (methods)
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lung Neoplasms (diagnosis, enzymology, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Prognosis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Survival Rate