Association of FOXP3 Expression with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

作者：Dimitrakopoulos Fotinos Ioannis D; Papadaki Helen; Antonacopoulou Anna G; Kottorou Anastasia; Gotsis Andreas D; Scopa Chrisoula; Kalofonos Haralabos P^*; Mouzaki Athanasia

来源：Anticancer Research, 2011, 31(5): 1677-1683.

• FOXP3
• lung cancer
• NSCLC
• immunohistochemistry
• lymph node
• metastasis

Background/Aim: Lung cancer is rarely cured by current therapeutic approaches. Although numerous studies have implicated FOXP3 positive regulatory T-cells in cancer pathogenesis, the role of FOXP3 in lung cancer pathogenesis remains unkown. Materials and Methods: Using immunohistochemistry FOXP3 expression was determined in 44 NSCLC tissue specimens, 20 samples from adjacent non neoplastic lung parenchyma and 5 normal lung tissue specimens. Results: FOXP3 immunostaining was always nuclear in both tumor and non-neoplastic adjacent tissues. FOXP3 was also detected at lower levels in normal bronchial epithelium. Moreover, FOXP3 expression in cancer cells correlated with lymphocytic FOXP3-immunopositivity and the presence of lymph node metastasis. FOXP3 lymphocytic expression was also negatively associated with the age of the patients. Conclusion: FOXP3 is overexpressed in NSCLC cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This study provides evidence that lymphocytic FOXP3 expression may be age related and that tumor FOXP3 expression is correlated with lymph node metastasis.

• 出版日期2011-5