ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) in lymphoid tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and its clinical significance. MethodsA total of 68 patients diagnosed as stage II non-small cell lung cancer in our hospital from January 2002 to December 2008 were selected as subjects. The lymph node specimens surgically removed from the patients were collected, and HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed. The patients with positive HE staining and immunohistochemical staining results were set as lymphatic metastasis group, and patients with negative HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were set as non-lymphatic metastasis group. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of CK19 and thyroid TTF-1 in patients with lymphatic metastasis and non-lymphatic metastasis. Patients with positive lymph node CK19 and TTF-1 in lymph tissue were set as micrometastases group, and patients with negative CK19 and/or TTF-1 were set as non-micrometastases group. After 3 years of follow-up, the 3-year survival rate of patients in the micrometastatases group and the non-micrometastases group was compared. ResultsThe positive expression rates of TTF-1 and CK19 in lymphoid tissue of patients with lymphatic node metastasis were significantly higher than those without lymphatic node metastasis (P＜0.05). The 3-year survival rate of patients with lymphatic node micrometastasis (57.14%) was significantly lower than those without micrometastasis (88.89%), and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). ConclusionThe expression of CK19 and TTF-1 in lymphoid tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer is closely related to lymph node metastasis and postoperative survival, and which is associated with micrometastasis in lung cancer.

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