Overexpression of immunohistochemical RhoA associated with poor prognosis in operable non-small cell lung cancer

Aim: The aim of the current study was to better understand the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Research was conducted, investigating the relationship between RhoA expression and clinicopathological parameters of NSCLC. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers. Thus, survival curves were plotted, evaluating the prognostic value of RhoA. Material/methods: In 2005, a total of 140 tissue samples were acquired from patients with operable NSCLC (stage I-III) Immunohistochemical staining of RhoA was performed. Correlation levels between RhoA expression and clinicopathologic outcomes, as well as the prognostic value of RhoA, were analyzed. Results: RhoA showed a cytoplasmic pattern of expression in tumor tissues, while normal lung components showed negative or weak cytoplasmic staining. According to RhoA expression, the tumors were divided into low (n=74) and high (n=66) groups. High RhoA expression was associated with histology type in these patients (P=0.027). Compared to low RhoA expression, high RhoA expression showed significant differences with TNM stage (P=0.010) and development of lymph node metastasis (P=0.010). Results also showed that high RhoA expression was related to poor prognosis (P=0.008), rendering the same results in stage I patients (P=0.042). However, multivariate analysis revealed no statistical significance (P=0.083). Conclusion: Present data strongly suggests that immunohistochemical RhoA protein expression has a positive prognostic value. In the future, RhoA may serve as a prognostic marker in operable NSCLC patients.