Correlation and significance of MCT1，CD147and CD44 protein expressions in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract:

Objective：To analyze the correlation of monocarboxylate transporters 1（MCT1），CD147 and CD44 protein expressions in non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC） and to discuss their respective clinico-pathological value in the occurrence，development and prognosis of NSCLC. Methods：Fifty specimens of NSCLC tissues（pulmonary cancer group），peritumoral tissues（more than 5 cm far from the tumor margin，peritumoral group） and 21 specimens of benign pulmonary disease tissues（control group） were enrolled. The expressions of MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results：（1）The positive expression rates of MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein in pulmonary cancer group were significantly than those in peritumoral group and control group（P<0.05）；（2）Significant correlations between MCT1 expressions in the cell membrane and expressions of CD147 and CD44 were existed（ χ2=7.284，P=0.007；χ2=6.522，P=0.011）；（3）The expressions of MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein in NSCLC were not correlated with the age，gender，site，tumor size and pTNM stage，but correlated significantly with the histological type（ χ2=12.888，P=0.039； χ2=3.997，P=0.043； χ2=3.982，P=0.000；χ2=7.670，P=0.035） and lymph node metastasis（ χ2=13.406，P=0.021；χ2=13.406，P=0.021；χ2=11.809，P=0.039； χ2=12.493，P=0.000）. In addition，MCT1 expressions in the cell membrane were correlated significantly with the tumor differentiation degree（χ2=7.135，P=0.013） and smoking（χ2=6.623，P=0.010）. CD44 was correlated significantly with the tumor differentiation degree（χ2=5.486，P=0.000）. Conclusions：The expressions of MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein in specimens of NSCLC are significantly higher than those in peritumoral tissues and benign pulmonary disease tissues. Statistics shows that significant correlations among expressions of MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein in NSCLC cell membrane are existed. MCT1，CD147 and CD44 protein may participate in the occurrence，development and the distant lymph node metastasis of cancer，thus can be regarded as the evaluation index for NSCLS.