Expression of syndecan-1 is common in human lung cancers independent of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor

In order to determine syndecan-1 expression in lung cancer, we examined 115 lung cancer specimens and 17 lung cancer cell lines. Syndecan-1 was immuno histochemically stained with a polyclonal antibody in 115 paraffin-embedded specimens. 84 cases out of 97 nun-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and eight cases: out of 18 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were positively stained. Si multaneously. epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) was stained: 47 cases out of 97 NSCLC and one case of 18 SCLC were positively stained. No signif icant correlation was shown between EGFR and syndecan-1 expression (P = 0.6 8). Syndecan-1 mRNA was detectable in 16 of 17 lung cancer cell lints and E GFR mRNA in nine of 17. Eight cell lines had syndecan-1 mRNA as well as EGF R mRNA. PR-39 (1 muM) and 80 pM transforming growth factor-beta (1), (TGF-b eta (1)), did not increase expressions of syndecan-1 mRNA and EGFR in five lung cancer cell lines. We concluded that lung cancer had detectable syndec an-1: however. expression of syndecan-1 protein did not correlate with surv ival time of lung cancer patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. A ll rights reserved.