[Expression of EP-CAM, beta-catenin in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of EP-CAM, beta-catenin in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix.


METHODS
The expressions of EP-CAM and beta-catenin were detected with immunohistochemical stain in 14 cases of normal cervical squamous epithelium, 32 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 38 cases of cervical invasive squamous cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
The over-expression rates of EP-CAM were 0, 7.1%, 20.0%, 62.5% and 55.3% for normal cervical epithelium, CINI, CINII, CINIII and carcinoma groups. The EP-CAM over-expression rates in CINIII and cervical carcinoma groups were significantly higher than those in normal epithelium and CINI groups (P < 0.001). No aberrant expression of beta-catenin was shown in normal cervical epithelium, while the aberrant expression rates of beta-catenin in CINI, CINII, CINIII and cervical carcinoma group were 28.6%, 40.0%, 62.5% and 84.2%. The aberrant expression rate of beta-catenin increased with the increase in degree of CIN and development of cervical carcinoma. The over-expression rate of EP-CAM was reversely related to the differentiation of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
EP-CAM and beta-catenin may be involved in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix. The over-expression of EP-CAM and aberrant expression of beta-catenin may serve as markers of squamous carcinogenesis of uterine cervix.
Yang
Jian-zhu
JZ
Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Zhang
Xiang-hong
XH
Wu
Wen-xin
WX
Yan
Xia
X
Liu
Yan-li
YL
Wang
Jun-ling
JL
Wang
Feng-rong
FR
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin