Human lung adenocarcinomas express TrkA and TrkB, but not TrkC; A549 cells, express mRNA transcripts encoding nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), TrkA, TrkB, and p75, and high protein levels of TrkA and TrkB.

expression of TrkB and BDNF is associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.

TrkB has a key role in the acquisition of a full epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype in lung cancer cells.

TrkB expression in lung adenoma cells is an early step in tumor cell dissemination.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 directly regulated TrkB expression, and, in turn, TrkB activated Akt signaling in metastatic lung cancer cells.

Data suggest that high expression of TRKB (not TRKA or TRKC) in lung squamous cell carcinoma is correlated with vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, advanced stage of tumor, and poor prognosis; overall survival of patients with TRKB-high expression is significantly shorter than those with TRKB-low expression; RNA interference against TRKB or BDNF (TRKB agonist) inhibits cell proliferation of tumor cell line.

High TRKB expression is associated with Small Cell lung cancer.

coexpression of BDNF and TrkB is associated with poor prognosis in small cell lung cancer patients