Prognostic Value of SPARC Expression in Unresectable NSCLC Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The aim of the present study was to determine the predictive/prognostic value of the secretedprotein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in cases of unresectable, locally advanced, non-small cell lungcancer. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The study included 84 patients with Stage IIIA-B non-small cell lung cancer,undergoing simultaneous chemoradiotherapy including radiotherapy at a dose of 66 Gy and weekly docataxel(20 mg/m2) and cisplatin (20mg/m2). SPARC expression was studied in biopsy material by immunohistochemicalmethods and correlations with treatment responses or survival were evaluated. <br/><b>Results</b>: Median overall survivalwas 16±2.73 (11.55-20.46) months for low expression vs 7±1.79 months (7.92-16.08) months for high expression(p=0.039), while median local control was 13±2.31 (8.48-17.5) months for low expression vs 6±0.85 (4.34-7.66)months for high expression (p=0.045) and median progression-free survival was 10±2.31 (5.48-14.5) months forlow expression vs 6±1.10 (3.85-8.15) months for high expression (p=0.022). In both univariate and multivariateanalyses, high SPARC expression was associated with significantly shorter overall survival (p=0.003, p=0.007,respectively), local control (p=0.008, p=0.036) and progression-free survival (p=0.004, p=0.029) when comparedto low SPARC expression. No significant difference was detected between high and low SPARC expression groupsregarding age, sex, T stage, N stage, histopathology and stage-related patient characteristics. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: HighSPARC expression was identified as a poor prognostic factor in cases with locally advanced NSCLC treated withconcurrent chemoradiotherapy.