Objective: To detect the expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) in lung squamous cell carcinoma and explore its prognostic significance.
Methods: Tissue microarray of 92 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma were examined for the expression of IMP3 by SP immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the correlation between IMP3 expression and the clinicopathological features of lung squamous cell carcinoma, and the relationship between prognostic factors and overall survival rate were analyzed by statistical methods.
Results: IMP3 expression rate in lung squamous cell carcinoma was significant higher than that in the adjacent lung tissues (x(2);=70.145, P<0.01). IMP3 expression was closely correlated with the poor differentiation (x(2);=9.811, P<0.01), metastasis (x(2);=11.926, P<0.01), and higher pathologic stage (x(2);=7.136, P<0.01). Importantly, it was negatively correlated with the overall survival rate (Log-rank=23.889, P<0.01); After the operation, IMP3 emerged as a significantly independent hazard factor for the prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma (hazard ratio: 0.436, 95%CI: 0.247-0.768, P<0.01).
Conclusion: IMP3 expression predicts a poor prognosis in the patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma, so it can be used as a novel lung carcinoma biomarker.