Correlation between VEGFR-2 and XAGE-1b Gene Expressions in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

: Objective To explore the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 （VEGFR-2） and cancer-testis antigens XAGE-1b gene expressions in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods Tumor tissues were obtained from 30 patients with NSCLC and the total RNA was extracted for RT-PCR. Full-length XAGE-1b gene was amplified by RT-PCR and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression level was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. The correlation between VEGFR-2 and XAGE-1b gene expressions and the association between gene expressions and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results In the 30 tumor tissue specimens, the expression rate of XAGE-1b gene was 40%. XAGE-1b expression was associated with pathology （adencarcinoma vs. non- adencarcinoma: 61.1% vs. 8.3%,χ²=6.302,P=0.012）. There was positive correlation between XAGE-1b and VEGFR-2 expressions （r=0.546,P=0.002）. Pathology（OR=0.072,95%CI=0.007~0.785,P=0.031）and VEGFR-2 expression level （OR=14.765,95%CI=1.274~171.144,P=0.031）were influential factors for XAGE-1b expression. There were no significant difference in the overall survival between the patients with positive and negative XAGE-1b or with high level and low level VEGFR-2 （Log-rank P=0.416 and 0.384）. Conclusions Patients with NSCLC whose tumor was XAGE-1b positive and VEGFR-2 high expression might be appropriate population for combination therapy of antiangiogenic treatment with immunotherapy.