Pathobiology

Original Paper

Free Access

Expression of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Pathway Markers in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Kim H.-S. · Kim G.Y. · Lim S.-J. · Kim Y.W.

Author affiliations

Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author

Dr. Gou Young Kim

Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine

1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu

Seoul 130-702 (Republic of Korea)

Tel. +82 2 440 7551, E-Mail pathogen@medimail.co.kr

Keywords: LungmTORp70S6KpAktPTENRapamycinSquamous cell carcinomaAdenocarcinoma

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Pathobiology 2012;79:84–93
https://doi.org/10.1159/000334340

Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway components is associated with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient outcome in lung adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt), mTOR, p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in 91 cases of AC and 154 cases of SCC. Results: pAkt expression was positively correlated with the expression of mTOR (p < 0.001) and p70S6K (p < 0.001), and mTOR expression was positively correlated with p70S6K expression (p < 0.001). PTEN expression was inversely correlated with the expression of pAkt (p = 0.001), mTOR (p < 0.001) and p70S6K (p = 0.012). In addition, loss of PTEN expression, observed in 37.4% (34/91) of AC patients, was significantly associated with a higher histologic grade (p = 0.013), pathologic T stage (p = 0.016) and N stage (p < 0.001) and advanced TNM stage (p = 0.001), as well as a shorter overall survival of AC patients (p = 0.015). Conclusion: The high prevalence of PTEN loss and its association with aggressive tumor behavior and poor patient outcome in AC suggest that loss of PTEN expression is involved in AC progression and serves as a prognostic marker for patients with AC.

© 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Paper

Received: August 21, 2011
Accepted: October 13, 2011
Published online: January 27, 2012
Issue release date: February 2012

Number of Print Pages: 10
Number of Figures: 4
Number of Tables: 5

ISSN: 1015-2008 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0291 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/PAT

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