Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) is a positive prognosticator for cervical cancer

Daniel Beilner,Bernd P Kost,Theresa Vilsmaier,Doris Mayr,Elisa Schmoeckel,Till Kaltofen,Udo Jeschke,Christina Kuhn,Christian Dannecker,Helene Hildegard Heidegger,Sven Mahner,Julia Jückstock,Aurelia Vattai

doi:10.1007/s00404-021-06053-3

Abstract

PurposeEnzymes with epigenetic functions play an essential part in development of cancer. However, the significance of epigenetic changes in cervical carcinoma as a prognostic factor has not been fully investigated. Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) presents itself as a potentially important element for epigenetic modification and as a potential prognostic aspect in cervical cancer.MethodsBy immunohistochemical staining of 250 tumor samples, the expression strength of NCoR was measured and evaluated by immunoreactive score (IRS) in the nucleus and cytoplasm.ResultsA low expression of NCoR in our patients was a disadvantage in overall survival. Expression of NCoR was negatively correlated with viral oncoprotein E6, acetylated histone H3 acetyl K9 and FIGO status, and positively correlated to p53.ConclusionsOur study has identified epigenetic modification of tumor cells thus seems to be of relevance in cervical cancer as well for diagnosis, as a marker or as a potential therapeutic target in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma.

Highlights

Materials and methodsCervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide with about 570,000 new cases in 2018, and this represents 7.5% of all female cancer deaths
Our results provide further evidence that epigenetic modulations might play a role in cervical cancer
In further analysis of this patient collective, we identified a negative correlation of Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) to human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein [14, 15]

Summary

Introduction

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide with about 570,000 new cases in 2018, and this represents 7.5% of all female cancer deaths. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women living in this regions, and is about 84% of the new cases worldwide [1]. In the developed world screening for cervical cancer including cervical cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) or both as well as HPV vaccination has strongly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer [2]. The persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. More than 150 HPV types are identified, and only some of them can infect the cervix, named HR-HPV [5]. The group of low-risk HPV types including HPV 6 and HPV 11 is associated with benign anogenital warts that infrequently progress to cancer and the group of high-risk HPV types including HPV 16 and HPV 18 is associated with lesions that are high risk for malignant progression and for cervical cancer [6]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion