Chaperonin containing t-complex polypeptide 1 subunit 6A correlates with lymph node metastasis, abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen and poor survival profiles in non-small cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the correlation of chaperonin containing t-complex polypeptide 1 subunit 6A (CCT6A) expression with clinicopathological features and survival profiles in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: A total of 381 NSCLC patients with Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) stage I–IIIA who underwent tumor resection were retrospectively screened. Immunohistochemistry staining and semi-quantitative scoring were used to evaluate CCT6A expression in tumor and adjacent tissues. Clinicopathological features were retrieved. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. RESULTS: CCT6A expression was elevated in tumor tissue (CCT6A high 47.5% vs. low 52.5%) compared with adjacent tissue (CCT6A high 30.4% vs. low 69.6%) (P < 0.001), and ROC curve displayed that CCT6A could distinguish tumor tissue from adjacent tissue. Moreover, tumor CCT6A high expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), elevated TNM stage (P = 0.002), and abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (P = 0.022). Kaplan–Meier curves displayed that tumor CCT6A high expression was negatively correlated with DFS and OS (all P < 0.001). Cox’s regression analysis disclosed that tumor CCT6A high expression independently predicted worse DFS (P < 0.001) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.659 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.318–2.089)), and OS (P < 0.001) (HR 1.779 (95%CI 1.378–2.298)). CONCLUSIONS: CCT6A may present some clinical value in the management of NSCLC.