# PI3K and PINK1 Immunoexpression as Predictors of Survival in Patients Undergoing Resection of Brain Metastases from Lung Adenocarcinoma

## TL;DR

This study explores how PI3K and PINK1 protein levels in lung cancer tumors correlate with patient survival after brain metastasis surgery.

## Contribution

The study identifies PI3K and PINK1 as potential prognostic biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases.

## Key findings

- PI3K expression was significantly higher in primary tumors compared to metastases.
- PINK1 overexpression in primary tumors was an independent predictor of poor survival.
- PI3K overexpression was associated with worse overall survival in patients.

## Abstract

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) are key regulators of metabolism and mitochondrial quality control. This study assessed their immunoexpression in 22 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and resected brain metastases who underwent curative treatment between 2007 and 2017 and evaluated their prognostic significance. Tissue microarrays of primary tumors and matched metastases were analyzed using the H-score method. PI3K expression was significantly higher in primary tumors (96.8 ± 57.9 vs. 43.5 ± 62.3; p = 0.003) and in stage IV adenocarcinomas (113.3 ± 56.3 vs. 61.4 ± 47.1; p = 0.043). PINK1 expression showed no significant variation across disease stages. Univariate analysis identified older age (>55 years), PI3K overexpression (HR = 7.791, 95% CI 1.718–36.432; >50 points), and PINK1 overexpression (>100 points) in primary tumors as predictors of poor overall survival (HR = 2.236, 95% CI 1.109–4.508; p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis confirmed PINK1 overexpression in primary tumors as an independent prognostic factor (HR = 4.328, 95% CI 1.264–14.814; p = 0.020). These findings suggest that PI3K and PINK1 may serve as prognostic biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma with resected brain metastases, emphasizing the need for research on their role in tumor progression and therapeutic response.