Expressions of receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in cervical carcinoma and correlation thereof with the invasion and metastasis of the cancerous tissues

Abstract

To investigate the expression of receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in early invasive cervical carcinoma and their relationship with the invasion and metastasis of the cervical cancerous tissues. Samples of cervical tissues were obtained from 95 cases of early invasive carcinoma of cervix (ICC) and 82 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN) during operation. 24 samples of normal cervical epithelium (NCE) were obtained during resection of hysteromyomas. Immunohistochemistry (S-P method) was used to detect the expression of RCAS1, VEGF, and MMP-9 in these samples. The relationship between those indexes and the factors related to clinical pathology of cervical carcinoma were analyzed statistically. The positive protein expression rates of RCAS1, VEGF, and MMP-9 in different samples all increased in the sequence of NCE, CIN, and ICC (0, 39.0%, and 72.6% respectively for RCAS1, 16.7%, 41.5%, and 67.4% respectively for VEGF, and 18.2%, 53.7%, and 78.9% respectively for MMP-9), with a significant difference between any 2 groups (all P < 0.001). The expression of RCAS1 protein was correlated with pelvic lymph node metastasis, intravascular and stromal infiltration, and histological grading (P = 0.001 or 0.000); but not correlated with patient's age, clinical stage, and histological types (all P > 0.05). The expression of VEGF and MMP-9 was correlated with pelvic lymph node metastasis, intravascular and stromal infiltration, and clinical stage (all P < 0.05); but not correlated with patient's age, histological grading, and histological types (all P > 0.05). There was an obviously positive correlation between the RCAS1 expression and VEGF expression (r = 0.882, P < 0.01), between the RCAS1 expression and MMP-9 expression (r = 0.868, P < 0.01), as well as between the VEGF and MMP-9 expression (r = 0.765, P < 0.01) in the cervical cancer. The positive expression of RCAS1, VEGF, and MMP-9 in invasive cervical carcinoma may play an important role in the development, lymph node metastasis, intravascular and stromal involvement of cancer cells. The expression of some metastasis related genes can be used to estimate the metastasis potentiality and is helpful for the treatment.