Expression of maspin protein in cervical squamous carcinoma and its relationship with p53 expression and HPV infection

Abstract

Objective To investigate expression of maspin protein in cervical squamous carcinoma (CSC) and evaluate its possible role in tumorigenesis and progression of cervical carcinoma, and to further investigate its relationship between p53 expression and HPV infection. Methods Levels of maspin protein and p53 protein in cervical squamous carcinoma, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and normal uterine neck were detected by immunohistochemistry. Analyses were made concerning possible relationship between the expression of 2 proteins and clinicopathologic indices and correlation between maspin in CSC and p53 expression. HPV detection was made with PCR amplification and hybridization. Results (1) Expression of maspin in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix gradually down-regulated, as seen from normal cervical tissue to cervical intraepitbelial neoplasia to squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The higher the clinical stages and the lower the cell differentiation, less expression of maspin there was. In cervical squamous carcinoma with lymphatic metastasis, positive expression rate of maspin was lower than that without lymphatic metastasis. And significant differences could be noted when comparisons were made between the two (P <0.05). Negative correlation could be seen between expressions of maspin and p53 in cervical squamous carcinoma(r_s = -0.399, P < 0.05). (2) Negative correlation was shown between expressions of maspin and the high-risk HPV infection(r_s =-0.294 ,P < 0.05). Conclusions Maspin might play a strong inhibitory role in the genesis and development of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Abnormal expression of maspin might Key words: Maspin; Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC); Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN); p53; Human papilloma vires(HPV)