Beta-catenin expression pattern in small cell lung cancer: correlation with clinical and evolutive features

beta -catenin expression in small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) was investiga ted by immunohistochemical method using antibodies against beta -catenin. 5 0 pre-treatment biopsies were examined and the relationship between beta -c atenin expression and the patients' relevant clinical characteristics, resp onse to chemotherapy, time to relapse or progression, and overall survival, were analyzed. beta -catenin expression exhibited different intensity with in each sample, predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, and no sample sho wed nuclear expression. There was cytoplasmic hyperexpression in 14 cases, hypoexpression in 15 cases, and normal expression in 21 cases. We did not f ind any association between beta -catenin expression and clinical data. Our results show, however, correlation between beta -catenin cytoplasmic hyper expression with a shorter time to progression (p=0.0437) as well as with a shorter overall survival (p=0.0253). beta -catenin hyperexpression could ha ve prognostic significance in SCLC.