Background and objective: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is closely correlated with the progression of lung cancer. Its activity is modulated by Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) family. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of c-Cbl, Cbl-b and EGFR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: Expressions of c-Cbl, Cbl-b and EGFR protein were detected with tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry technique in 94 cases of NSCLC. The correlations between the expression of the three proteins and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.
Results: The positive expression rates of EGFR, c-Cbl and Cbl-b were 60.6% (57/94), 30.9% (29/94) and 84.0% (79/94), respectively. The expression of EGFR, c-Cbl and Cbl-b was not associated with age, pathological type, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and smoking history. c-Cbl and Cbl-b status was not significantly correlated with overall survival. Subgroup analyses showed that c-Cbl-positive patients had longer survival than c-Cbl-negative patients in EGFR-positive group (P=0.014).
Conclusion: Detection of c-Cbl protein levels might contribute to the prognosis evaluation of EGFR-positive NSCLC.
背景与目的: 表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）与肺癌的发展密切相关，其功能受泛素连接酶（Casitas B-lineage lymphoma, Cbl）家族调节，本研究旨在探讨c-Cbl、Cbl-b和EGFR在非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）组织中的表达及其在预后判断方面的应用价值。
方法: 采用组织微阵列联合免疫组织化学染色技术检测94例NSCLC组织中c-Cbl、Cbl-b、EGFR的表达，分析其与临床病理因素及预后之间的关系。
结果: c-Cbl、Cbl-b和EGFR的阳性表达率分别为30.9%（29/94）、84.0%（79/94）和60.6%（57/94）。c-Cbl、Cbl-b蛋白表达与年龄、病理类型、TNM分期、淋巴结有无转移及吸烟史无关。EGFR、c-Cbl、Cbl-b的表达与患者的总生存无明显相关。亚组分析显示，在EGFR阳性组患者中，c-Cbl阳性组患者的总生存期（overall survival, OS）明显优于c-Cbl阴性组的患者（P=0.014）。
结论: 检测c-Cbl蛋白的表达水平可能有助于预测EGFR阳性NSCLC患者的预后。