C-kit (CD117) expression in patients with small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Aim: The tyrosine-kinase receptor c-kit and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) are coexpressed in many small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. The aim of this study was to search the role of CD117 (c-kit) overexpression as a prognostic marker in SCLC.Methods: Demographic and clinical data of patients with SCLC was registered. C-kit overexpression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry performed in paraffin-embedded specimens. Immunostaining data of 87 patients were correlated with survival and other relevant clinical parameters.Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.1 +/- 9.9 years. Thirty-nine patients (44.8%) had limited disease and 48 patients (55.2%) had extensive disease. C-kit (+) expression was observed in 24.1% of 87 patients. The mean survival time for c-kit (+) patients was 10.2 (CI=5.7-14.7) months as compared with the c-kit (-) population in whom the survival was 14.7 (CI=10.7-18.6) months. The difference in survival time between c-kit (+) and (-) patients was not statistically significant (p=0.264).Conclusion: New prognostic markers and more effective treatment regimens are needed for SCLC. Our findings may provide an insight to future clinical trials searching c-kit inhibitors in SCLC.