BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of S100A as potential biomarker for breast cancer was reported; however, this finding has recently been challenged. Here, the aim was to assess whether S100A4 could also be a prognostic biomarker of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A specific high-titer anti-S100A4 monoclonal antibody was developed. The utility and specificity of this antibody was validated by immunostaining experiments. The antibody was tested against a newly developed high-density tissue microarray including 400 lung cancer tissues to examine the clinico-pathological and prognostic significance of S100A4 in lung cancer. RESULTS: The staining of S100A4 was significantly associated with patients' poor prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma but not lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: S100A4 seems to be a prognostic biomarker of lung squamous cell carcinoma (5-year survival rate of 38.5% versus 7.4%, p<0.01), but not of adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of S100A as potential biomarker for breast cancer was reported; however, this finding has recently been challenged. Here, the aim was to assess whether S100A4 could also be a prognostic biomarker of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A specific high-titer anti-S100A4 monoclonal antibody was developed. The utility and specificity of this antibody was validated by immunostaining experiments. The antibody was tested against a newly developed high-density tissue microarray including 400 lung cancer tissues to examine the clinico-pathological and prognostic significance of S100A4 in lung cancer. RESULTS: The staining of S100A4 was significantly associated with patients' poor prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma but not lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION:S100A4 seems to be a prognostic biomarker of lung squamous cell carcinoma (5-year survival rate of 38.5% versus 7.4%, p<0.01), but not of adenocarcinoma.