SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG - DOES THE NM23 GENE-EXPRESSION CORRELATE TO THE TUMOR STAGE

We examined the nm23 gene activity in 30 human squamous cell carcinoma s of the lung using the Northern blot analysis. Matched healthy lung t issue was available from 10 patients. 26 tumor samples were obtained a fter resection treatment between 1986 and 1990, 4 additional samples o f advanced stages from autopsy. We found a significant increase of nm2 3 expression towards advanced stages of squamous cell carcinoma (IIIa vs. I: p < 0.015, IV vs. II: p < 0.043, IV vs. I: p < 0.043). Furtherm ore in stage I and II, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas contained significantly more nm23 mRNA than did moderately differentia ted ones (p < 0.027). We could also demonstrate an inverse correlation between the levels of nm23 mRNA and disease-free survival after resec tion treatment (p < 0.016, chi2-test for trend). Thus the nm23-gene ac tivity correlates to the tumor stage and the grade of differentiation of the squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, and is therefore of progno stic relevance. It might be possible to describe the biological behavi our of the individual tumor more accurately by the additional measurem ent of the nm23 mRNA.