In this study, we performed multivariate analysis of the mRNA levels of 10 selected genes [VEGF-A, VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF189, S100A4, E-cadherin, Thrombospondin (TSP)-1, TSP-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9] in 130 NSCLC specimens using the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
The aim of this study is to identify and quantitate TSP I and TSP II mRNA in NSCLCs with respect to p53 alterations, angiogenic growth factor expression, and microvascular density.
THBS1 was in general underexpressed in lung cancer; in contrast, mRNA levels of THBS2 were markedly overexpressed in a number of datasets of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), including lung adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma.
Although previous studies have reported higher serum TSP-2 levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the role of TSP-2 in lung cancer progression remains to be addressed.
Our pilot study identified upregulated genes in early-stage NSCLC including growth factors (TGFA and EFNA3), the adhesion molecule THBS2, cytokines and chemokines (MDK, CXCL9, CXCL10), and the serine protease PLAU.