Mariko Hashiguchi1,2, Masanori Masuda1, Keita Kai3, Yoshifumi Nakao2, Atsushi Kawaguchi4, Masatoshi Yokoyama2, Shinichi Aishima1,3. 1. Department of Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. 2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. 3. Department of Pathology, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan. 4. Center for Comprehensive Community Medicine, Saga University Faculty of Medicine, Saga, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: To identify potential biomarkers for tumor progression and patient outcomes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: We examined the expressions of CK7 and CK17 as potential markers of the squamo-columnar junction, and podoplanin as a basal cell marker using surgical and biopsy samples of patients in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 30), operable invasive carcinoma (OP group, n = 53) and inoperable invasive carcinoma before radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (RC group, n = 76). RESULTS: The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in invasive carcinoma were significantly lower than those in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.001, P < 0.0001). The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in the RC group were significantly lower than those in the OP group (P < 0.0001, P = 0.04), while CK17 expression showed significantly higher positivity in the RC group than in the OP group (P < 0.0001). Negative CK7 expression showed a potential impact on overall survival in early-stage patients. In the RC group, the prevalence of cases with post-therapeutic residual carcinoma cells was higher in the CK7-negative group than in the positive group (P = 0.003). We found that decreased expression of CK7 could be a prognostic factor in early-stage cervical cancer patients. CONCLUSION: This result may provide strategies and suggestions for new treatment options and follow-up practices in managing patients with cervical cancer.
AIM: To identify potential biomarkers for tumor progression and patient outcomes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: We examined the expressions of CK7 and CK17 as potential markers of the squamo-columnar junction, and podoplanin as a basal cell marker using surgical and biopsy samples of patients in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 30), operable invasive carcinoma (OP group, n = 53) and inoperable invasive carcinoma before radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (RC group, n = 76). RESULTS: The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in invasive carcinoma were significantly lower than those in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.001, P < 0.0001). The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in the RC group were significantly lower than those in the OP group (P < 0.0001, P = 0.04), while CK17 expression showed significantly higher positivity in the RC group than in the OP group (P < 0.0001). Negative CK7 expression showed a potential impact on overall survival in early-stage patients. In the RC group, the prevalence of cases with post-therapeutic residual carcinoma cells was higher in the CK7-negative group than in the positive group (P = 0.003). We found that decreased expression of CK7 could be a prognostic factor in early-stage cervical cancerpatients. CONCLUSION: This result may provide strategies and suggestions for new treatment options and follow-up practices in managing patients with cervical cancer.