The relationship between expression of llotillin-1 and lymph node metastasis in early-stage cervical cancers

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of flotillin-1 in cervical cancer, and molecular mechanism and relationship between flotillin-1 and lymph node metastasis. Methods Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of flotillin-1 in cervical cancer cells and tissues, and detect the role of flotillin-1 in cervical cancer metastasis and the possible mechanism by over-expression and interference. Results The protein and mRNA expression of Flotillin-1 were significantly upregulated in cervical cancer cell lines and cancer tissues. The elevated expression of flotillin-1 protein in early-stage cervical cancers was significantly associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). Moreover, flotillin-1 up- and down-regulations remarkably affected the motility and invasion of cervical cancer cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulated by the Wnt//β-catenin and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. Conclusions Flotillin-1 regulates the EMT process through the catenin beta Wnt and NF-κB signaling pathway, and promotes the metastasis of cervical cancers. The flotillin-1 expression profile serves as novel independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in early-stage cervical cancers. Key words: Uterine cervical neoplasms; Membrane lipids/ME; Membrane microdomains; Lymphatic metastasis