TIMP1 AND ADVERSE PROGNOSIS IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

The tumor inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) family is a natural in hibitor of several matrix metalloproteinase enzymes which are involved in the process of tumor cell invasion through the extracellular matri x, The aim of this study was to examine TIMP1 RNA expression levels in relation to the clinicopathological features in resected primary non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Total cellular RNA, obtained from 45 c ases of NSCLC and adjacent normal lung tissue, was examined using Nort hern blot analysis, TIMP1 RNA expression levels were heterogeneous in NSCLC but was significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma compared to t he squamous cell carcinoma subtype. Although the TIMP1 RNA levels did not correlate with sex, smoking, tumor, node, or TNM stage, there was a statistically significant survival disadvantage for cases with relat ively high TIMP1 RNA expression, suggesting a role for TIMP1 in determ ining the prognosis of resected NSCLC.