Methods: The study included 30 patients (23 males, 7 females; mean age 60±10 years; range 33 to 77 years) with stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. None of the patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy before or after surgery. The mean follow-up period was 48±11 months. The chi-square test was used for comparison of variables. The cumulative survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the significance was assessed by the log-rank test. The effects of AMFR and clinical factors on survival were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox’s proportional hazard model.

Results: Six tumors (20%) showed positive staining for AMFR. The overall survival in patients with AMFR expression was significantly worse than those without AMFR expression (p=0.052). Multivariate analysis showed AMFR expression (p<0.016) and older age (p<0.015) as independent prognostic factors on poor survival.

Conclusion: Expression of AMFR can be a useful marker for the follow-up of patients with cancer and for metastatic potential of tumors. However, further studies are required to determine its value for adjuvant therapy.