No abstract

Summary Tissue factor (TF) is an initiator of the extrinsic cascade of blood coagulation. Although recent studies have revealed a relationship between metastatic properties and TF expression in some neoplastic cells, the significance of TF in lung cancer, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is still unclear. In this study, TF was detected in NSCLC cell lines by functional study, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining. TF levels in eight NSCLC cell lines were also quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and TF expression was evaluated in 55 specimens of surgically resected NSCLCs. NSCLC cell lines derived from metastatic lesions produced high levels of TF (48.3 ± 23.5 ng 10 -6 cells, mean ± s.e.m.), whereas those derived from primary lesions produced low levels of TF (0.2 ± 0.1 ng 10 -6 cells). Immunohistochemical studies disclosed significantly stronger staining for TF in cells from NSCLC patients with metastasis than in those without metastasis. Among the 28 patients with metastasis, ten were strongly positive, 16 were moderately positive and two were negative for TF. In contrast, among the 27 patients without metastasis, only two were strongly positive, 18 were moderately positive and seven were negative for TF. Therefore, malignant cells from patients with lung cancer produce various levels of TF, and TF may play an important role in the metastatic process.Keywords: tissue factor; lung cancer; non-small-cell lung cancer; metastasis 472British Journal of Cancer (1999) 79(3/4), 472-477 © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign Article no. bjoc.1998 Received 1 September 1997 Revised 8 April 1998 Accepted 16 April 1998 Correspondence to: Y Yoshizawa, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan TF in non-small-cell lung cancer 473

No abstract

(1,000 mg per day for 3 days), followed by oral prednisolone (40-60 mgper day). Seven patients were received CsA (1.0-2.0 mg/kg per day) after the treatment with corticosteroids. We attempted to keep the blood trough level of CsA between 100 and 150 ng/ml.Results Amongthe 7 patients treated with CsA, 4 patients have survived for 60, 120, 276 and 208 weeks, respectively; 2 did not respond to pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone and died within 8 weeks after the start of CsAtreatment. The other patient experienced reexacerbation and died 87 weeks after the discontinuation of CsA due to the development of viral encephalitis. In contrast, all 6 patients treated without CsA died within 66 weeks after the onset of acute exacerbation. Four of these patients responded to pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone, but their condition deteriorated again while the subsequent prednisolone was being tapered. Conclusion CsAseems to prevent re-exacerbation of IPF and improve the patients' chances for long-term survival.

No abstract