ERCC1 and RRM1 as a predictive parameter for non-small cell lung, ovarian or pancreas cancer treated with cisplatin and/or gemcitabine

Background: We aimed to investigate the impact of RRM1 and ERCC1 expression on response to cisplatin and/or gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with lung, ovarian or pancreatic cancer.

Material and methods: Patients with lung, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, who used cisplatin and/or gemcitabine therapy were included; hospital files were examined and RRM1 and ERCC1 expression were evaluated with an immunohistochemical method on tissue cross sections from paraffin blocks of the tumour.

Results: Out of 89 patients, 51%, 30% and 19% had lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, respectively. The response rates to the therapy in patients with lung and ovarian cancer having low ERCC1 expression were 62% and 90%, respectively (p = 0.028 and p = 0.044, respectively). No significant association was found between ERCC1 expression and response to therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.354). Therapeutic response rates in patients with lung and pancreatic cancer with low RRM1 expression were 60% and 82%, respectively. Survival rates were higher in patients with lung cancer in which ERCC1 and RRM1 expressions were low. Median survival duration in patients with ovarian cancer showing low ERCC1 and RRM1 expressions was longer than that seen in patients with high expressions. Although no significant correlation was found between ERCC1 and the survival in ovarian cancer (p = 0.183), there was a significant correlation between RRM1 expression and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Our results suggest a predictive value of ERCC1 in lung and ovarian cancers, and also RRM1 in lung and pancreatic cancers.