EXPRESSION OF HEPARANASE AND ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN HUMAN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective： To explore the expression and significance of heparanase in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） regarding prognosis and clinicopathological parameters. Methods： The expression of heparanase was assessed using immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot in 122 paraffin-embedded specimens and 38 freshly taken tissues. The relationship between heparanase expression and the clinicopathological factors was analyzed by Chi-square test, multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier method. Results： In the immunoreactive cells, staining was mainly located in cytoplasma and membrane. Human heparanase was highly expressed in lung cancer tissue （78.7%, 96/122） while negative in epithelia of normal lung tissues. The level of heparanase was remarkably higher in NSCLC than that in normal tissue （P=0.043）. Expression of heparanase significantly correlated with TNM stage （P=0.025）, lymphatic metastasis （P=0.002） and vascular invasion （P=0.0003）. The patients with positive heparanase expression had a significantly shorter survival than those with negative heparanase expression （P=0.0006）. In multivariate analysis, only p-TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis and vascular invasion could be considered as prognostic factors. Conclusion： Elevated level of heparanase in human non-small cell lung cancer tissues correlates with the TNM stage, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. However, heparanase expression is not an independent prognostic factor.