Assessment of IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins as predictors of response to chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Citation
Cg. Ferreira et al., Assessment of IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins as predictors of response to chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients, ANN ONCOL, 12(6), 2001, pp. 799-805
Citations number
46
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology,"Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
0923-7534 → ACNP
Volume
12
Issue
6
Year of publication
2001
Pages
799 - 805
Database
ISI
SICI code
0923-7534(200106)12:6<799:AOI(OA>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Background: Expression of inhibitor of apoptosis family proteins (IAPs) has been shown in vitro to decrease chemosensitivity through caspase inhibitio n. However, the role of IAPs as predictors of response to chemotherapy in c ancer patients remains to be determined. Patients and methods: Using immunohistochemistry, we assessed the expressio n of the IAP proteins c-IAP1, c-IAP2, and XIAP on tumors from 55 patients w ith advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy, and correlated that with the observed response to chemotherapy, time to pro gression and overall survival. Results: Differences were observed in the pattern of staining among the IAP proteins. The expression of c-IAP2 and XIAP was exclusively cytoplasmic, w hereas c-IAP1 also displayed nuclear staining. The median expression of tum or cells for c-IAP1, c-IAP2, and XIAP was 70%, 45%, and 25%, respectively, and a correlation was observed between c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 (P = 0.004), and c -IAP1 and XIAP expression (P = 0.013). However, no association was seen bet ween the expression of these proteins and sex, age, tumor size, stage, hist ology and grade of differentiation. Interestingly, expression of c-IAP1, c- IAP2, and XIAP did not predict response to chemotherapy. In addition, the e xpression of IAPs had no impact on the time to progression or overall survi val of this group of patients. Conclusions: Our results indicate that: 1) there are differences in the lev el of expression and in the subcellular distribution of c-IAP1, c-IAP2, and XIAP in tumors derived from NSCLC patients. 2) The expression of c-IAP1, c -IAP2 and XIAP does not predict the response to chemotherapy in patients wi th advanced NSCLC. 3) The relation between expression of IAPs and chemosens itivity in cancer patients may be more complex than anticipated by in vitro data.