Expression of Caspase-9 in Early and Locally Advanced Stage Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
Received Date : 31 May 2020
Accepted Date : 02 Sep 2020
Available Online : 29 Sep 2020
Burcu YAPAR TAŞKÖYLÜa, Aydın DEMİRAYb, Atike Gökçen DEMİRAYa, Gamze GÖKÖZ DOĞUa, Arzu YARENa, Serkan DEĞİRMENCİOĞLUa, Nail ÖZHANc, Canan KARANa, Umut ÇAKIROĞLUd, Hakan AKÇAb, Ferda BİRe, Ahmet ERGİNf
aDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TURKEY
bDepartment of Medical Biology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TURKEY
cClinic of Medical Oncology, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, TURKEY
dClinic of Medical Oncology, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, TURKEY
eDepartment of Pathology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TURKEY
fDepartment of Social Pediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TURKEY
Doi: 10.37047/jos.2020-76948 - Article's Language: EN
J Oncol Sci. 2020;6(3):147-52
ABSTRACT
Objective:Apoptosis plays a critical role in carcinogenesis. Intracellular proteases known as caspase-9 directly or indirectly play
roles inactivating apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of caspase-9 level in lung skuamous cancer tumor tissues on lymph
node metastasis, clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis. Material and Methods: The study included 50 patients diagnosed with squamous
cell lung cancer. The caspase-9 level in the tumor and metastatic lymph nodes was assessed using real time-polymerase chain reaction(
RT-PCR) methods. Results: The median age of the patients was 61 years (range, 54-68 years). All patients were men and smokers. The
average duration of follow-up was 50.26±39.21 months, and progression-free survival was 26.34±19.50 months. Among 50 patients, 22 (44%)
had lymph node metastasis. The caspase-9 level was studied in tumors with and without lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the caspase-9 levels
in tumors with lymph node metastasis were statistically and significantly lower than tumors without lymph node metastasis (p<0.001). The
caspase-9 level decreased as the stage increased (p<0.001). In the presence of angiolymphatic invasion and poorly differentiated tumor tissue,
a low level of caspase-9 was identified. Conclusion: The caspase-9 level decreased with increasing stage and the presence of lymph
node metastasis. No statistically significant association was detected between caspase-9 and survival. A literature review revealed that no
studies have evaluated the correlation between caspase-9 in the squamous cell subtype, clinicopathological parameters, and survival. Extensive
studies involving a significant number of patients are required to determine the prognostic and predictive significance of the caspase-9
level in our population.
Keywords: Lung neoplasm; apoptosis; caspase 9