[The clinical significance of β-arrestin 2 expression in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer patients].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high morbidity and mortality is the most common types of lung cancer. beta-arrestin 2 is a kind of soluble protein regulating signal transduction mediated by G protein coupling receptor. The aim of this research is to evaluate the clinical significance of β-arrestin 2 expression in the serum of NSCLC patients. METHODS: The clinical and follow-up data of 20 healthy candidates and 67 patients diagnosed with NSCLC in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2005 to December 2006 was retrospectively analyzed. ELISA was applied to detect the expression of beta-arrestin 2. RESULTS: The serum level of β-arrestin 2 in NSCLC patients were all Significantly lower than those in healthy controls (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001). The serum level of β-arrestin 2 in stage I NSCLC patients were higher than those in stage III as well as in stage IV (P<0.001, P<0.001). No statistical difference of β-arrestin 2' serum level was found between with stage III and stage IV patients (P=0.273). Univariate prognostic factor analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method indicated patients' prognosis with high serum level of β-arrestin 2 was better than patients with low and middle (P<0.001, P<0.001). The serum level of β-arrestin 2 and the stage of NSCLC signally affected prognosis in COX regression model (P=0.003, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: The serum level of β-arrestin 2 had significant difference between NSCLC patients and healthy controls, likewise between the early and advanced NSCLC patients. The serum level of β-arrestin 2 affected NSCLC patients' prognosis.