Integrin-Linked Kinase, snail and multidrug resistance protein 1 : three concordant players in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract EN

Background: Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), Snail and Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 (MRP1) have been implicated in several cancers; however, their roles in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain to be elucidated.

Aim: Investigation of their expression in NSCLC tissue.

Relationships among these proteins and their association with clinicopathological parameters were studied.

Materials and methods: ILK, Snail and MRP1 expression were immunohistochemically assessed in 97 tumor tissues.

Furthermore, western blot analysis for ILK, Snail and MRP1 in 6 cases of NSCLC was also performed.

Results: ILK overexpression, positive Snail and MRP1 expression were found in 46.4%, 36.1% and 49.5% of tumors respectively.

ILK expression was significantly correlated with tumor grade (p= 0.013), lymph node (LN) metastases (p= 0.001) and stage (p=0.001).

Positive Snail and MRP1 expression were significantly associated with LN metastasis (p= 0.004 and 0.022, respectively) and advanced stage disease (p= 0.018 and 0.024, respectively).

MRP1 expression was significantly higher among adenocarcinoma cases compared to other types (p= 0.001).

ILK over-expression was significantly associated with up-regulation of Snail and MRP1 (p< 0.001 both).

Significant association was also, found between Snail and MRP1 expression (p= 0.005).

Moreover, the co-expression of two markers or more was significantly associated with less differentiation (p= 0.011), advanced tumor status (p=0.030), LN metastasis (p< 0.001) and advanced stage (p <0.001) disease.

Western blot analysis validated immunohistochemical findings.