Prognostic significance of expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E and 4E binding protein 1 in patients with pathological stage I invasive lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Both eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and eIF4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) are involved in the malignant progression of human cancers. However, the role of eIF4E and 4E-BP1 expression as prognostic markers has not been evaluated concurrently in any human cancers.

Methods: The expression of eIF4E and 4E-BP1 was semiquantitatively examined with immunohistochemical staining in 80 patients with pathological stage I invasive lung adenocarcinoma.

Results: The 10-year survival rate was significantly lower for patients with high eIF4E expression (64.0% [n=36]) than for patients with low eIF4E expression (89.9% [n=44], P=0.024), and in patients with high eIF4E expression the 10-year survival rate was lower for patients with low 4E-BP1 expression (39.0% [n=12]) than for patients with high 4E-BP1 expression (85.2% [n=24], P=0.036). In patients with low eIF4E expression, the 10-year survival rate was lower for patients with low 4E-BP1 expression (87.6% [n=36]) than for patients with high 4E-BP1 expression (100% [n=8]), but statistical analysis was impossible because all patients with high 4E-BP1 expression were censored. Unfavorable prognostic factors for survival were age greater than 65 years (P=0.015), pathological stage IB disease (P=0.045), high eIF4E expression (P=0.008), and low 4E-BP1 expression (P=0.007).

Conclusions: Both eIF4E and 4E-BP1 are potential new prognostic factors for survival and stratification in patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma. The eIF4E and 4E-BP1 status may provide a basis for individualized therapy.