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Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2013;6(12):2887-2895

Original Article
Increased ZO-1 expression predicts valuable prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Songshi Ni, Liqin Xu, Jianfei Huang, Jian Feng, Huijun Zhu, Gui Wang, Xudong Wang

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; Department of Pathology,
Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong
University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China

Received September 23, 2013; Accepted October 19, 2013; Epub November 15, 2013; Published December 1, 2013

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and its potential value as prognostic
indicator of survival in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
(qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry with tissue microarrays were used to characterize the expression of the ZO-1 mRNA and protein in
NSCLC. The correlation of ZO-1 expression with clinical characteristics and prognosis was determined by statistical analysis. Results: The
ZO-1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in NSCLC tissue compared with corresponding peritumoral tissue (P<0.05). ZO-1
protein expression in NSCLC was related to age (P=0.042) and 5-year survival (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses
revealed that low ZO-1 expression (P<0.001) and later stage grouping by TNM (P=0.031) were independent factors predicting poor prognosis
for patients with NSCLC. Conclusions: Our findings provide the first evidence that high expression of ZO-1 is associated with good prognosis
in NSCLC. (IJCEP1309058).

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer, zonula occludens-1, immunohistochemistry, prognosis

Address correspondence to: Dr. Songshi Ni, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu
226001, China. Tel: +86-13706293196; Fax: +86-513-85519820; E-mail: jsntnss@gmail.com