Abstract:
Objective To explore correlations of expression levels of microRNA-147 (miR-147), Ki-67 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with lymph node metastasis of invasive lung adenocarcinoma.
Methods A total of 160 patients with invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma were selected as study subjects. Based on presence of lymph node metastasis, patients were divided into lymph node metastasis group (n=74) and non-lymph node metastasis group (n=86). Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression levels of miR-147 and Ki-67 in cancer tissues. The serum CEA level was measured using the chemiluminescence method. The correlations of the expression levels of miR-147, Ki-67 and serum CEA with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients were analyzed. The value of miR-147, Ki-67 and CEA in predicting lymph node metastasis was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results The expression level of miR-147 in the lymph node metastasis group was significantly lower than that in the non-lymph node metastasis group, while the expression levels of Ki-67 and serum CEA were significantly higher in the lymph node metastasis group than in the non-lymph node metastasis group (P < 0.05). Patients with a tumor diameter ≥3 cm or TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ had significantly lower miR-147 expression levels in cancer tissues compared to those with a tumor diameter < 3 cm or TNM stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ (P < 0.05). The Ki-67 expression level in cancer tissues was significantly higher in patients with a tumor diameter≥3 cm than in those with a tumor diameter < 3 cm (P < 0.05). The serum CEA level was significantly higher in patients with TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ than in those with TNM stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ (P < 0.05). The expression level of miR-147 was negatively correlated with Ki-67, serum CEA and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05); Ki-67 and serum CEA were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05); Ki-67 was positively correlated with serum CEA (P < 0.05). The areas under the ROC curves for miR-147, Ki-67 and CEA in predicting lymph node metastasis were 0.785, 0.835 and 0.798, respectively (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The expression levels of miR-147 and Ki-67 in cancer tissues and the serum CEA level are correlated with lymph node metastasis in invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma.