Estrogen receptor 1 gene expression and its combination with estrogen receptor 2 or aromatase expression predicts survival in non-small cell lung cancer

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 13;9(10):e109659. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109659. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The biological roles of estrogen receptor 1 (ERS1), estrogen receptor 2 (ERS2), and aromatase (CYP19A1) genes in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear, as is the use of their expression as a prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of estrogen receptors and aromatase mRNA expression, along with aromatase protein concentration, in resected NSCLC patients. Tumor and non-tumor lung tissue samples were analyzed for the mRNA expression of ERS1, ERS2 and CYP19A1 by RT-PCR. Aromatase concentration was measured with an ELISA. A total of 96 patients were included. ERS1 expression was significantly higher in non-tumor tissue than in tumor samples. Two gene expression categories were created for each gene (and protein): high and low. ERS1 high category showed increased overall survival (OS) when compared to the low expression category. Aromatase protein concentration was significantly higher in tumor samples. Higher ERS1 expression in tumor tissues was related to longer overall survival. The analysis of gene expression combinations provides evidence for longer OS when both ERS1 and ERS2 are highly expressed. ESR1, alone or in combination with ERS2 or CYP19A1, is the most determining prognostic factor within the analyzed 3 genes. It seems that ERS1 can play a role in NSCLC prognosis, alone or in combination with other genes such as ERS2 or Cyp19a1. ERS2 in combination with aromatase concentration could have a similar function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aromatase / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Male
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • ESR1 protein, human
  • ESR2 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Aromatase
  • CYP19A1 protein, human

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant (PROYECT BIO07/CA/012) from the Basque Broadcasting Corporation (EITB; www.eitb.com) Cancer Marathon. Funding to pay the Open Access publication charges for this article was provided by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grant: RD06/0020/0067, ISCIII). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.