Abstract:
Objectives Little is known about the expression significance and mechanism of neural plakophilin-related armadillo protein (NPRAP), a member of the catenin family, in numerous tumors. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of NPRAP expressionand its correlation with the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods TNPRAP expression and its correlation with clinico-pathological factors in 70 NSCLC specimens (including 35 with paired lymph node metastases) were examined by immu-nohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of NPRAP were also determined in 30 cases with paired lung cancer tissues and normal lung tissues.
Results Compared with normal lung tissues, the mRNA and protein expression levels of NPRAP were increased inlung cancer. The high expression of NPRAP was closely associated with higher stages and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The positive expression of NPRAP is associated with the poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. NPRAP may promote tumor progression.