Objective   This study aimed to detect the expression of annexin A1 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore its clinical significance.

  Methods   We detected the expression levels of annexin A1 in NSCLC and the same patient's distal cancerous tissue (from the edge of the tumor >5 cm) by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemical methods, and then analyzed their correlation with clinical pathological parameters.

  Results   Real-time PCR showed that the expression of annexin A1 mRNA in NSCLC was higher than that of distal cancerous tissue (0.574±1.403 vs. 0.240±0.893, t=2.060, P=0.045). Moreover, the expression of annexin A1 in NSCLC was associated with the degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging (P < 0.05), but independent of gender, age, smoking history, tumor size, and histological type (P > 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of annexin A1 protein in NSCLC was higher than that of distal cancerous tissue.

  Conclusion   Annexin A1 is highly expressed in the cancer tissues of patients with NSCLC, which may be correlated with the occurrence and development of tumor and its invasion and metastasis.