[Association of CD133 and endothelin-converting enzyme expressions with prognosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of tumor stem cell marker CD133 and endothelin-converting enzymes (ECE) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and their association with NSCLC lymphoid metastasis.

METHODS: CD133 and ECE expressions was detected immunohistochemically in the specimens from 77 patients with NSCLC, and the association of CD133 and ECE expressions with the tumor size, histological type, differentiation, lymphoid metastasis, and prognosis of NSCLC was analyzed.

RESULTS: The positive expression rate of CD133 and ECE was 51.9% (40/77) and 45.5% (35/77) in these specimens, respectively. Both CD133 and ECE expressions were associated positively with lymphoid metastasis (r=0.246 and 0.339, P<0.05), and inversely with the survival time of the patients (P<0.05). CD133 and ECE expressions were not related to tumor size, histological type, and differentiation of the tumor (P>0.05). CD133 expression was associated positively with ECE expression in NSCLC (r=0.249, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: CD133 and ECE expressions are associated with lymphoid metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC, and their overexpression often suggests unfavorable prognosis of NSCLC.