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Death receptor 5 and Bcl-2 protein expression as predictors of tumor response to gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

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Abstract

The cytotoxic effects of gemcitabine (G) and cisplatin (C) seem to occur through induction of apoptosis. To examine whether the efficacy of GC chemotherapy might be influenced by the expression of death receptor 5 (DR5) and Bcl-2 of the tumor, we investigated the correlation between the tumor response rate and DR5 and Bcl-2 expression in a series of patients prospectively treated with GC. Thirty-four chemotherapy naïve patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received intravenously 1000 mg/m2 gemcitabine on d 1 and 8 along with 80 mg/m2 cisplatin on d 2, every 21 d. Tumor specimens were analyzed for DR5 and Bcl-2 expression by immunohistochemistry. The objective response rate was 56% (19 of 34 patients). With median follow-up of 10 mo, the predicted median survival time was 12 mo (95% confidence interval [CI], 9–15 mo). Eleven (32%) and 14 (41%) NSCLC cases were found positive for DR5 and Bcl-2, respectively. The response rate was significantly higher in patients with DR5 expression than those without DR5 expression (91% vs 39%; p=0.008). Patients with Bcl-2 expression were apparently less responsive than those without Bcl-2 expression (21% vs 80%; p=0.001). DR5 and Bcl-2 expression was significantly associated with response to GC chemotherapy. Therefore, DR5 and Bcl-2 status are useful factors for predicting the efficacy of GC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine & Radiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

    Byung Gil Choi, Jin No Park, Ki Won Kim, Jin Hyung Kang, Jong-Youl Jin, Suk Young Park, Young Seon Hong & Kyung Shik Lee

  2. Center for Lung Cancer, National Cancer Center, 809 Madul-dong, Ilsan-gu, Goyang-si, 411-764, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    Ji-Youn Han MD, PhD & Eun Kyung Hong

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  1. Ji-Youn Han MD, PhD
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  2. Eun Kyung Hong
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  3. Byung Gil Choi
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  4. Jin No Park
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  5. Ki Won Kim
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  9. Young Seon Hong
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Correspondence to Ji-Youn Han MD, PhD.

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Han, JY., Hong, E.K., Choi, B.G. et al. Death receptor 5 and Bcl-2 protein expression as predictors of tumor response to gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Med Oncol 20, 355–362 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:4:355

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:4:355

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