Prognostic significance of AKR1B10 in patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Aldo‐keto reductases (AKRs) modify carbonyl groups on aldehyde or ketones to form primary or secondary alcohols, which are then conjugated with sulfates or glucuronide for excretion. The AKR1B10 gene encodes a member of the AKR superfamily. Overexpression of AKR1B10 plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of lung cancer cells; however, the prognostic value of AKR1B10 expression in patients with lung adenocarcinoma has not been well demonstrated. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma were included in the study. AKR1B10 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in tumor specimens. The prognostic value of AKR1B10 overexpression and its relationship with clinicopathological variables were investigated. RESULTS: AKR1B10 overexpression was identified in 22 (22.9%) of the 96 patients and tended to be significantly associated with N1 or N2 status (P = 0.055). AKR1B10 overexpression was not a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.301) but was a significant prognostic factor for poor recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.015). T status (T3 or T4 vs. T1 or T2; P = 0.020), N1 or N2 (vs. N0; P = 0.019), predominant pattern group (lepidic/acinar/papillary vs. micropapillary/solid; P = 0.023), and AKR1B10 overexpression (P = 0.013) were significant prognostic factors for poor recurrence‐free survival in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: AKR1B10 overexpression was a significant prognostic factor for poor recurrence‐free survival in patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma. This information is useful to stratify patients at high‐risk of recurrence after lung adenocarcinoma resection.