The Deficiency of Nuclear Proteins GATA6 and Lamin A/C as Prognostic Factor for Cervical Neoplasia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a deadly disease for women worldwide and could be prevented if early molecular screening was performed ahead of cytology. In most neoplastic lesions the expression of nuclear proteins GATA6 and/or lamin A/C is deficient. OBJECTIVE: To analyze GATA6 and lamin A/C in archived cervical epithelial tissues and in cells derived from cervical uterine smears (CUS). METHODS: Immunofluorescence was used to analyze GATA6 and lamin A/C in epithelial cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze GATA6 and lamin A/C expression in normal and neoplastic archived cervical tissues. Immunoblotting was used to analyze GATA6 and lamin A/C in cells of CUS obtained freshly from 40 selected women (age 20-45 years) who were attending routine gynecological checkup in Hospital Menontin (Cotonou, BENIN). Colposcopy was used to visualize the vaginal tract and the uterine-cervix junction. This study is approved by our Institutional Research Ethic Committee and by the Ministry of Health in BENIN. RESULTS: Our data shows that the expression of GATA6 and lamin A/C is altered prior to cervical neoplastic lesions. The nuclear biomarkers GATA6 and lamin A/C are absent in 13% of CUS samples. Colposcopic examination performed after two years on 15 women lacking GATA6 and/or lamin A/C shows that 20% of them have developed cervical neoplastic lesions. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that the deficiency of GATA6 and lamin A/C in CUS could be used as biomarkers to contribute to the identification of women at risk of developing cervical lesions. However further studies are required for cancer prevention.