BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic value of folate receptor alpha (FOLR1) and/or reduced folate carrier (RFC1) expression, which are well-characterized folate transporters, in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We quantitatively examined gene expression of FOLR1 and RFC1 in surgical specimens resected from NSCLC patients. A total of 119 consecutive patients from January 2003 to June 2004 were included. RESULTS: In adenocarcinoma, the FOLR1 gene expression was downregulated in smokers and male patients (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, FOLR1 expression values in patients with well-differentiated, early p-stage, pT1, pN0, EGFR mutant, and p53 wild-type cancers were significantly higher than those for poorly differentiated, advanced p-stage, pT2-4, pN1-3, EGFR wild-type, and p53 mutant (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P < 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively). In squamous cell carcinoma, FOLR1 expression values in patients with pN1-3 was significantly higher than those with pN0 (P = 0.037). Moreover, the 3-year survival rate and disease-free survival rate of high-FOLR1-expressing patients (94.7% and 75.4%) were significantly higher than those of low-FOLR1-expressing patients (80.9% and 60.8%) (P = 0.008 and P = 0.038). A multivariate analysis confirmed that high FOLR1 expression was an independent and significant factor predicting a favorable prognosis (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of FOLR1 appear to be associated with better prognoses for patients with lung adenocarcinomas.
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic value of folate receptor alpha (FOLR1) and/or reduced folate carrier (RFC1) expression, which are well-characterized folate transporters, in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We quantitatively examined gene expression of FOLR1 and RFC1 in surgical specimens resected from NSCLCpatients. A total of 119 consecutive patients from January 2003 to June 2004 were included. RESULTS: In adenocarcinoma, the FOLR1 gene expression was downregulated in smokers and male patients (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, FOLR1 expression values in patients with well-differentiated, early p-stage, pT1, pN0, EGFR mutant, and p53 wild-type cancers were significantly higher than those for poorly differentiated, advanced p-stage, pT2-4, pN1-3, EGFR wild-type, and p53 mutant (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P < 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively). In squamous cell carcinoma, FOLR1 expression values in patients with pN1-3 was significantly higher than those with pN0 (P = 0.037). Moreover, the 3-year survival rate and disease-free survival rate of high-FOLR1-expressing patients (94.7% and 75.4%) were significantly higher than those of low-FOLR1-expressing patients (80.9% and 60.8%) (P = 0.008 and P = 0.038). A multivariate analysis confirmed that high FOLR1 expression was an independent and significant factor predicting a favorable prognosis (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of FOLR1 appear to be associated with better prognoses for patients with lung adenocarcinomas.
Authors: Daniel C Christoph; Bernadette Reyna Asuncion; Biftu Hassan; Cindy Tran; Julia D Maltzman; Daniel J O'Shannessy; Murry W Wynes; Thomas C Gauler; Jeremias Wohlschlaeger; Mathias Hoiczyk; Martin Schuler; Wilfried E Eberhardt; Fred R Hirsch Journal: J Thorac Oncol Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 15.609
Authors: Jane C Figueiredo; A Joan Levine; Won H Lee; David V Conti; Jenny N Poynter; Peter T Campbell; David Duggan; Juan Pablo Lewinger; Maria Elena Martinez; Cornelia M Ulrich; Polly Newcomb; John Potter; Paul J Limburg; John Hopper; Mark A Jenkins; Loic Le Marchand; John A Baron; Robert W Haile Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2009-12-27 Impact factor: 2.506