High tumor cell expression of microRNA-21 in node positive non-small cell lung cancer predicts a favorable clinical outcome

Table 3 miR-21 in tumor cells and stroma as predictors for disease-specific survival in NSCLC patients (univariate analysis; log-rank test) and results of Cox regression analysis summarizing significant independent prognostic factors

Characteristics	Pts (n)	Pts (%)	Median survival (months)	5-Year survival (%)	Univariate (P)	Multi-variate (P)	HR 95% CI
Total (n = 335)					0.45	0.71	1.08
Low	220	66	190	61			0.73-1.60
High	98	29	98	55
Missing	17	5
Tumor ¹ (n = 335)					0.65	0.40	1.20
Low	60	18	NR	59			0.74-1.95
High	258	77	127	59
Missing	17	5
N0 (n = 223)					0.091	0.33	0.69
Low	43	19	NR	75			0.33-1.45
High	180	81	190	66
N+ (n = 95)					0.024	0.027	2.03
Low	17	18	17	18			1.09-3.78
High	78	82	37	42			1.09-3.78
Stroma ² (n = 335)					0.022	0.12	0.45
Low	21	6	189	89			0.16-1.24
High	301	90	127	57
Missing	13	4
N0 (n = 225)					0.044	0.061	0.32
Low	16	7	190	93			0.08-1.38
High	209	93	NR	66
N+ (n = 97)					0.44	0.45	0.58
Low	5	5	71	75			0.14-2.37
High	92	95	27	36

NR = not reached.
¹Tumor cells.
²Cells of the peritumoral connective tissue (fibroblasts, mesenchymal cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, pericytes and extracellular matrix.
Statistically significant results in bold font.