Abstract

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is first found to be a promoter of the thyroglobulin. The primary function of this protein is the regulation of nuclear transcription.TTF-1 has suggested having both oncogenic and anti-oncogenic effects on tumor biology. A total number of 1104 patient’s data with lung cancers are evaluated. When the patients without adenocarcinoma histology, unknown TTF-1 status, and lost follow-up were excluded, the remaining total number of 104 patient’s characteristics, chemotherapy types, treatment responses (as accommodation with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were recorded and analyzed.TTF-1 positivity is significantly correlated with the female gender. The biopsy location among the groups was statistically different between the TTF-1 positive and negative groups. The EGFR mutation rate was significantly higher in the TTF-1 positive group. In the survival analysis, the TTF-1 positive patients have a significantly better OS in all study population. The statistically significant survival advantage was going on in the TTF-1 positive group when the TKI treated patients excluded. The PFS was not significantly different between the two groups. However, when the TKI treated patients excluded in both groups; the TTF-1 positive group had a significantly better PFS. In conclusion, TTF-1 positivity may be used as a positive prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma independent from TKI usage because of strongly correlated with a better OS.

Key words: Lung adenocarcinoma, Prognostic marker, TTF-1