Correlation between an enzyme (glutathione S-transferase-π) and effects of chemotherapy (cisplatin + etoposide)

Objectives: We studied the correlation between cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy and GST-π staining in patients with untreated primary nonsmall cell lung cancer. Methods: Of patients diagnosed as having primary lung cancer, 27 patients (26 men, 1 woman; median age 74.9 years) with stage IIIb or over were studied. Histological types included squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. A course of treatment consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m²/day x one day and etoposide 100 mg/m²/day x 3 days during 28 days. After 2 courses of treatment, the therapeutic effects were judged and examined in relation to immunostaining levels obtained with anti- GST-π antibody. Results: Of patients with PR (14), 11 showed GST-π (-) staining. Conclusion: There is a correlation between GST-π staining and the effects of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy.