title: c-Myc protein expression is not an independent prognostic predictor in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The c-myc protein is known to regulate the cell cycle, and its down-regulation can lead to cell death by apoptosis. The role of c-myc protein as an independent prognostic determinant in cervical cancer is controversial. In the present study, a cohort of 220 Brazilian women (mean age 53.4 years) with FIGO stage I, II and III (21, 28 and 51%, respectively) cervical squamous cell carcinomas was analyzed for c-myc protein expression using immunohistochemistry. The disease-free survival and relapse-rate were analyzed using univariate (Kaplan-Meier) survival analysis for 116 women who completed the standard FIGO treatment and were followed up for 5 years. Positive c-myc staining was detected in 40% of carcinomas, 29% being grade 1, 9% grade 2, and 2% grade 3. The distribution of positive c-myc according to FIGO stage was 19% (17 women) in stage I, 33% (29) in stage II, and 48% (43) in stage III of disease. During the 60-month follow-up, disease-free survival in univariate (Kaplan-Meier) survival analysis (116 women) was lower for women with c-myc-positive tumors, i.e., 60.5, 47.5 and 36.6% at 12, 36, and 60 months, respectively (not significant). The present data suggest that immunohistochemical demonstration of c-myc does not possess any prognostic value independent of FIGO stage, and as such is unlikely to be a useful prognostic marker in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Oncologia Ginecológica, Hospital Maternidade Leonor Mendes de Barros, Secretaria da Saúde do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. brenna@ops@zaz.com.br
authors.forename: S M F
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brenna
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Zeferino
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: L A L
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassalo
authors.forename: E Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Syrjanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc