Expression of the GLI family genes is associated with tumor progression in advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in various cancers. Expression of the GLI family of genes, which encode for transcriptional factors of the Hh pathway, has not been fully assessed in clinical samples of advanced lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the expression of the GLI family of genes in advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma samples and determined their relation to patient survival. METHODS: The levels of GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 mRNA expression were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in surgically obtained tissue samples from stage II-IV lung adenocarcinoma patients (n = 102). Pairwise comparisons between all three GLI mRNA expression were performed, and after dichotomizing the patients into low and high expression groups according to each GLI mRNA expression level, survival curves were calculated and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation was found between GLI1 and GLI3 mRNA expression (P <0.001). Tumors with higher expression (upper 15%) of GLI1 or GLI3 mRNA were associated with poor survival in stage II-IV (5-year overall survival rates: GLI1 mRNA low, 41.7% vs. high, 20.0%, P = 0.0074; GLI3 mRNA low, 43.1% vs. high, 13.3%, P = 0.0062) and stage III-IV (5-year overall survival rates: GLI1 mRNA low, 34.0% vs. high, 0%, P = 0.0012; GLI3 mRNA low, 33.4% vs. high, 7.7%, P = 0.057) lung adenocarcinoma patients. GLI2 mRNA expression did not appear to have great clinical significance. Multivariate analysis revealed higher GLI1 mRNA expression as an independent factor for unfavorable patient survival (P = 0.0030, hazard ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-6.2), as well as tumor differentiation and stage. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of GLI1 and GLI3 mRNA was strongly correlated, and their overexpression, especially that of GLI1, was found to be predictive of aggressive tumor behavior. This study indicates that the Hh pathway may be a key oncogenic signaling network in tumor pathogenesis and, thus, a potential therapeutic target in advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

[A case of complete resection of a squamous cell lung cancer invading diaphragm after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of nedaplatin and irinotecan].

The treatment for squamous cell lung cancer has remained unclear, while that for lung cancer according to each pathology type has advanced. This is a case of complete response of a squamous cell lung cancer invading the diaphragm which could be resected completely after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of nedaplatin (CDGP) and irinotecan (CPT-11). CDGP and CPT-11 might be effective for squamous cell lung cancer.

Radiologic and Functional Analysis of Compensatory Lung Growth After Living-Donor Lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: Whether compensatory lung growth occurs in adult humans is controversial. The aim of this study was to confirm compensatory lung growth by analyzing ipsilateral residual lung after lower lobectomy in living lung transplant donors with quantitative and qualitative computed tomography assessments. METHODS: Chest computed tomography and pulmonary function tests were performed in 31 eligible donors before and 1 year after donor lobectomy. Ipsilateral residual lung volume was measured with three-dimensional computed tomography volumetry. The computed tomography-estimated volumes of low, middle, and high attenuations in the lung were calculated. Assessment of the D value, a coefficient of the cumulative size distribution of low-density area clusters, was performed to evaluate the structural quality of the residual lung. RESULTS: Postoperative pulmonary function test values were significantly larger than preoperative estimated values. Although postoperative total volume, low attenuation volume, middle attenuation volume, and high attenuation volume of the ipsilateral residual lung were significantly larger than the preoperative volumes, with 50.2%, 50.0%, 41.5%, and 43.1% increase in the median values, respectively (all p < 0.0001), the differences in D values before and after donor lobectomy were not significant (p = 0.848). The total volume of ipsilateral residual lung was increased by more than 600 mL (50%). CONCLUSIONS: The volume of ipsilateral residual lung increased, but its structural quality did not change before and after donor lobectomy. The existence of compensatory lung growth in adult humans was suggested by quantitative and qualitative computed tomography assessments.

The synergistic role of ATP-dependent drug efflux pump and focal adhesion signaling pathways in vinorelbine resistance in lung cancer.

The vinorelbine (VRB) plus cisplatin regimen is widely used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its cure rate is poor. Drug resistance is the primary driver of chemotherapeutic failure, and the causes of resistance remain unclear. By focusing on the focal adhesion (FA) pathway, we have highlighted a signaling pathway that promotes VRB resistance in lung cancer cells. First, we established VRB-resistant (VR) lung cancer cells (NCI-H1299 and A549) and examined its transcriptional changes, protein expressions, and activations. We treated VR cells by Src Family Kinase (SFK) inhibitors or gene silencing and examined cell viabilities. ATP-binding Cassette Sub-family B Member 1 (ABCB1) was highly expressed in VR cells. A pathway analysis and western blot analysis revealed the high expression of integrins ß1 and ß3 and the activation of FA pathway components, including Src family kinase (SFK) and AKT, in VR cells. SFK involvement in VRB resistance was confirmed by the recovery of VRB sensitivity in FYN knockdown A549 VR cells. Saracatinib, a dual inhibitor of SFK and ABCB1, had a synergistic effect with VRB in VR cells. In conclusion, ABCB1 is the primary cause of VRB resistance. Additionally, the FA pathway, particularly integrin, and SFK, are promising targets for VRB-resistant lung cancer. Further studies are needed to identify clinically applicable target drugs and biomarkers that will improve disease prognoses and predict therapeutic efficacies.

Association of Local Intrapulmonary Production of Antibodies Specific to Donor Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I With the Progression of Chronic Rejection of Lung Allografts.

BACKGROUND: Antibody-mediated rejection may lead to chronic lung allograft dysfunction, but antibody-mediated rejection may develop in the absence of detectable donor-specific antibody (DSA) in recipient serum. This study investigated whether humoral immune responses develop not only systemically but locally within rejected lung allografts, resulting in local production of DSA. METHODS: Lewis rats received orthotopic left lung transplantation from Lewis (syngeneic control) or Brown-Norway (major histocompatibility complex-mismatched allogeneic) donor rats. Rats that underwent allogeneic lung transplantation were subsequently administered cyclosporine until day 14 (short immunosuppression) or day 35 (long immunosuppression). The lung grafts and spleens of recipient animals were tissue cultured for 4 days, and the titer of antibody against donor major histocompatibility complex molecules was assayed by flow cytometry. Explanted lung grafts were also evaluated pathologically. RESULTS: By day 98, DSA titers in supernatants of lung graft (P = 0.0074) and spleen (P = 0.0167) cultures, but not serum, from the short immunosuppression group were significantly higher than titers in syngeneic controls. Cultures and sera from the long immunosuppression group showed no production of DSA. Microscopically, the lung grafts from the short immunosuppression group showed severe bronchiole obliteration and parenchymal fibrosis, along with lymphoid aggregates containing T and B cells, accompanying plasma cells. These findings suggestive of local humoral immune response were not observed by days 28 and 63. CONCLUSIONS: DSA can be locally produced in chronically rejected lung allografts, along with intragraft immunocompetent cells. Clinical testing of DSA in serum samples alone may underestimate lung allograft dysfunction.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 promotes chemoresistance of lung cancer by inducing carbonic anhydrase IX expression.

Lung cancer treatment is difficult owing to chemoresistance. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and HIF-1-induced glycolysis are correlated with chemoresistance; however, this is not evident in lung cancer. We investigated the effect of HIF-1α and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a transmembrane protein neutralizing intracellular acidosis, on chemoresistance and prognosis of lung cancer patients after induction chemoradiotherapy. Associations of HIF-1α, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), and CAIX with chemoresistance of lung cancer were investigated using A549 lung cancer cells under normoxia or hypoxia in vitro. HIF-1α-induced reprogramming of glucose metabolic pathway in A549 cells and the effects of HIF-1 and CAIX on the cytotoxicity of vinorelbine were investigated. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to determine HIF-1α, GLUT1, and CAIX expression levels in cancer specimens from lung cancer patients after induction chemoradiotherapy. Hypoxia induced HIF-1α expression in A549 cells. Moreover, hypoxia induced GLUT1 and CAIX expression in A549 cells in a HIF-1-dependent manner. Glucose metabolic pathway was shifted from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis by inducing HIF-1α in A549 cells. HIF-1 and CAIX induced chemoresistance under hypoxia, and their inhibition restored the chemosensitivity of A549 cells. The expression levels of HIF-1α, GLUT1, and CAIX were associated with poor overall survival of lung cancer patients after induction chemoradiotherapy. HIF-1 and CAIX affected the chemosensitivity of A549 cells and prognosis of lung cancer patients. Therefore, inhibition of HIF-1 and CAIX might improve prognosis of lung cancer patients after induction chemoradiotherapy. Further analysis might be helpful in developing therapies for lung cancer.

Is volumetric 3-dimensional computed tomography useful to predict histological tumour invasiveness? Analysis of 211 lesions of cT1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to use Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of computed tomography (CT) images to predict pathological lymph node metastasis and tumour invasiveness of cT1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma on 3D evaluations. METHODS: Preoperative CT images of 211 lesions of surgically resected cT1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively examined. The tumour size was calculated in 1D, 2D and 3D views. Tumours with -300 HU and over were defined as 'solid tumours', and those between -800 and -301 HU were defined as 'ground glass opacity tumours'. Tumours with -800 HU and over were assumed to be the whole tumour entity. The proportion of 'solid tumour' within the whole tumour entity was also calculated as the 'solid tumour ratio'. These were compared with pathological information. RESULTS: Solid tumour size and ratio were positively correlated with microscopic invasion to pleura, vessels and lymphatics in all dimensional evaluations. Pathological lymph node metastases were also well predicted by solid tumour size and ratio in all dimensional evaluations. The P-values for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of 1D, 1D ×2, 2D and 3D evaluations were: solid tumour size P = 0.013, 0.014 and 0.032; and solid tumour ratio 0.016, 0.0032 and <0.0001. In comparisons of 1D, 2D and 3D evaluations, 'solid tumour size' of the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC to detect pathological lymph node metastases was not significant. However, strikingly, the 3D solid tumour ratio was found to be significantly more accurate for the prediction of pathological lymph node metastases than the 1D and 2D solid tumour ratios on ROC evaluation (AUC: 1D 0.736, 2D 0.803 and 3D 0.882; P-values for the AUC comparisons were P = 0.013 for 3D versus 1D and P = 0.022 for 3D versus 2D). The correlations of subtypes of adenocarcinoma and the 3D solid tumour ratio were also investigated. Subtypes of adenocarcinoma were well correlated with the 3D solid tumour ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative 3D CT using threshold values of -800 and -300 HU was useful for predicting pathological lymph node metastases and tumour invasiveness of cT1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma.

Association between epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stemness and their effect on the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness (CS) are reported to be pivotal phenomena involved in metastasis, recurrence, and drug-resistance in lung cancer; however, their effects on tumor malignancy in clinical settings are not completely understood. The mutual association between these factors also remains elusive and are worthy of investigation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between EMT and CS, and their effect on the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 239 lung adenocarcinoma specimens were collected from patients who had undergone surgery at Kyoto University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2007. Both EMT (E-cadherin,vimentin) and CS (CD133, CD44, aldehyde dehydrogenase) markers were analyzed through immunostaining of tumor specimens. The association between EMT and CS as well as the patients' clinical information was integrated and statistically analyzed. The molecular expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and CD133 were significantly correlated with prognosis (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, and P < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between E-cadherin and vimentin expression (P < 0.001), whereas, a positive correlation was found between vimentin and CD133 expression (P = 0.020). CD133 was a stronger prognostic factor than an EMT marker. Elevated CD133 expression is the signature marker of EMT and CS association in lung adenocarcinoma. EMT and CS are associated in lung adenocarcinoma. Importantly, CD133 is suggested to be the key factor that links EMT and CS, thereby exacerbating tumor progression.

Transmanubrial approach combined with video-assisted approach for superior sulcus tumors.

Surgical resection after chemoradiotherapy with strict patient selection is an established treatment for superior sulcus tumors. Several surgical approaches have been described, but surgery for superior sulcus tumors is still a challenge. Among the approaches, the anterior transmanubrial approach has been reported to provide good access to apical chest tumors. A technique for video-assisted thoracic surgery combined with the anterior transmanubrial approach for superior sulcus tumor is reported.

Video-assisted mediastinoscopic resection of ectopic parathyroid adenoma.

Hyperparathyroidism can induce fatal complications in long-term hemodialysis patients. Approximately 20% of patients with hyperparathyroidism have ectopic mediastinal parathyroid glands, and the locations of 2% require a median sternotomy or thoracotomy. A 68-year-old man with an ectopic parathyroid gland in the thymus, underwent total resection via a video-assisted mediastinoscopic approach, which provides a less invasive surgical approach.

Treatment of primary melanoma of the lung monitored by 5-S-cysteinyldopa levels.

Malignant melanoma originating outside the skin is very rare, whereas primary malignant melanoma of the lung is extremely rare. 5-S-Cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD), a melanin metabolite, has been reported to be a prognostic marker for cutaneous malignant melanoma. This is the first report in the English language literature dealing with primary malignant melanoma of the lung using serum 5-S-Cysteinyldopa levels to monitor the effects of surgery and chemotherapy.

Spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma.

Although there are many reports of spontaneous regression of noninvasive thymoma, there are no reports of spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma. Moreover, the mechanism of the spontaneous regression is still unknown. The present case concerns a 47-year-old man who presented with chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large anterior mediastinal mass with left pleural effusion that occluded the innominate vein. The tissue obtained by video-assisted thoracic surgery suggested a diagnosis of invasive thymic carcinoma. One month later CT showed prominent regression of the tumor, and the tumor was completely resected. On pathology, the diagnosis was thymoma type B3.

Bronchopulmonary foregut malformation in an adult.

A 50-year-old man with repeated episodes of right epigastric pain was seen in our hospital. Chest computed tomography and angiography revealed several arteries feeding an enhanced large mass located in the right lower lobe region. A right lower lobectomy was done with a provisional diagnosis of an intralobar sequestration. A 5-mm duct that was lined with esophageal mucous membrane that tracked from the lower esophagus toward the sequestrated lung was detected. A bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (BPFM) was diagnosed based on the histological finding that the duct was composed of ciliated epithelium and smooth muscle layers. BPFM is a subgroup of pulmonary sequestrations that communicate with the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast to pulmonary sequestrations, 75% of BPFMs are located on the right side. Thus, a BPFM should be considered in patients with right-sided pulmonary sequestrations, and their gastrointestinal tracts should be examined.