Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (Cthrc1) is an independently prognostic biomarker of non-small cell lung cancers with cigarette smoke.

Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (Cthrc1) has been recently documented in various malignancies, but its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. In the current study, we investigated the level of Cthrc1 in NSCLC tissues by immunohistochemistry. Results revealed that Cthrc1 overexpression was significantly associated with differentiation (P=0.039), tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P=0.035), lymph node status (P=0.001), and cigarette smoke (P=0.037). Furthermore, it was shown that patients with high Cthrc1 expression had significantly poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS; P=0.004 and P=0.010, respectively). Interestingly, high Cthrc1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS (P=0.010 and P=0.005, respectively) only in NSCLCs with cigarette smoke. These results indicated and suggested that Cthrc1 could be used as a prognostic marker for NSCLC, and it may play an important role in the smoked-related NSCLC.