NOB1 expression predicts early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of Nin one binding (NOB1) expression for response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS: A total of 105 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC were retrospectively investigated between January 2012 and June 2014. We used transbronchial biopsy to collect cancer tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry were used in the detection of NOB1 protein expression. We assessed the chemotherapy early response by response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (RECIST) Version 1.1 at the end of the second cycle of chemotherapy.

RESULTS: In the 105 transbronchial biopsy NSCLC specimens, 22 (21.0%) stained NOB1 - , 35 (33.3%) stained +, 31 (29.5%) stained ++ and 17 (16.2%) stained +++. The early response rate to chemotherapy was 59.0% in overall NSCLC. Early response to chemotherapy has no relationship with patients' age, gender, smoke status, performance status and chemotherapy regimens (P>0.05), but related with TMN stage, histopathological grade, as well as NOB1 expression (P < 0.05). In squamous cell carcinoma and non-squamous cell carcinoma, same results were found. Logistic regression analysis showed TMN stage, histopathological grade and NOB1 expression were independent prognosis factors for early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. After adjusted by TMN stage and histopathological grade, the OR for NOB1 expression was 1.429 (95% CI 1.115-1.743, P = 0.008) for early response to chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that enhanced expression of NOB1 related with poor early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.