<正>Objective: To study the expression of △Np73

an isoform of the p53 homologue p73

in the different stages of human non-small-cell lung cancer （NSCLC） and the association of△Np73 expression with in patient survival. Methods: Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was used to study the expression of△Np73 mRNA in 51 resected NSCLC tissues. Its relation to clinicopathological factors and survival outcome were analyzed. Results: The positive rate and expression level of△Np73 mRNA in the cancer tissues were significantly higher than that in the matched non-cancer lung tissues. The incidence of positive expression of△Np73 was 50. 0%

52. 6%

and 87. 5% in patients with stageⅠ

Ⅱ

andⅢ

respectively. Positive expression of△Np73 was associated with pathological TNM stage （P = 0. 046）

while not with age

gender

histological type and differentiation status. Survival rate of patients with high△Np73 mRNA was significantly poorer than those with low△Np73 mRNA levels （P<0. 001）. Multivariate analysis revealed that△Np73 mRNA levels were a significant prognostic factor

independent of the other conventional prognostic factors. Conclusion: NSCLC has over-expression of△Np73 mRNA

which is closely related to TNM stages and prognosis of patients with NSCLC. These results suggest that measurement of△Np73 mRNA levels in tumor tissues might be useful as a promising predictor for the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.