Purpose: To search the AKR1C3 and β-catenin expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore the correlation between AKR1C3 and β-catenin and radiation resistance.
Methods: Paraffin specimens from 61 patients with NSCLC were evaluated. These patients could not receive operation but received radical radiotherapy. The patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group with reference to RECIST evaluation criteria. The sites and intensity of AKR1C3 and β-catenin protein expression were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between AKR1C3 and β-catenin and radiation resistance was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The correlation between AKR1C3 and β-catenin was analyzed by Spearman's correlation test. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the AKR1C3 overall expression in the effective group and the ineffective group after radiotherapy.
Results: The nuclear expression in the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.033). The β-catenin protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of tissues with NSCLC. The β-catenin nuclear expression was different between the two groups, with statistical significance (p=0.008). AKR1C3 nuclear expression was positively correlated with β-catenin nuclear expression (rs=0.382, p=0.002).
Conclusions: High AKR1C3 nuclear expression in NSCLC is related to radiation resistance. The higher the AKR1C3 nucleus expression, the worse short-term curative effects after radiotherapy. High β-catenin nuclear expression is related to radiation resistance, and the higher the β-catenin nuclear expression, the worse the short-term curative effects after radiotherapy. The nuclear aggregation of AKR1C3 during radiation resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may have some synergistic relationship with nuclear aggregation of β-catenin.