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DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678388
Immunohistochemically Detectable Metallothionein Expression in Malignant Pleural Mesotheliomas is Strongly Associated with Early Failure to Platin-Based Chemotherapy
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
15. Februar 2019 (online)
Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumour arising from the pleura,
leading to a dismal prognosis. Platin-analoga are the drug of choice for the treatment
of MPM, resulting in a response rate of merely 6 to 16%. The known heavy metal detoxifying
effect of metallothionein (MT) may be the reason for heavy metal drug resistance of
MPM.
Methods 105 patients were retrospectively analysed immunohistochemically for their MT expression
levels. Survival analysis was done by Cox-regression (COXPH model).
Results COXPH were done in a linear and logarithmic scale revealing a significant association
between expression of MT and shortened overall survival (p = 0.0009; p = 0.0003).
For progression-free survival, again a strongly reduced overall survival rate could
be observed for MT expressing tumours (p = 0.0134; p = 0.0152).
Conclusion Our results indicate a possible resistance to platin-based chemotherapy by expression
of MPM. Both, overall survival and progression-free survival are negatively correlated
to detectable MT expression in MPM.
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* These authors contributed equally to the study.