Association between promyelocyte protein and small ubiquitin-like modifier protein and the progression of cervical neoplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between the size and number of promyelocyte protein-containing nuclear bodies, their colocalization with the small ubiquitin-like modifier protein, and existing histopathologic staging of cervical neoplasia progressing toward squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Fluorescence-based immunodetection of the promyelocyte protein and the small ubiquitin-like modifier protein was performed on paraffin-embedded and histopathologically graded human uterine cervical tissues. Quantitative measurements of the size and number of the promyelocyte protein-containing nuclear bodies were made and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
We found that promyelocyte protein-containing nuclear bodies exhibit changes in both size and number throughout the continuum of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. An increase in number and size of the bodies occurs with progression from normal to CIN I/CIN II. In CIN III, two new subcategories of nuclear body are present with distinctly different promyelocyte protein patterns, with the type B CIN III losing the small ubiquitin-like modifier protein partnership. In squamous cell carcinoma, we see the loss of this colocalization in both well and poorly differentiated tumors, with a distinctly different promyelocyte protein pattern. Well-differentiated tumors have bigger nuclear bodies that are more numerous than those of the poorly differentiated tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the use of promyelocyte and small ubiquitin-like modifier proteins as a cytodiagnostic marker that parallels cervical cancer progression.
Szendefi
Melinda
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Walt
Heinrich
H
Krasieva
Tatiana B
TB
Caduff
Rosmarie
R
Osann
Kathryn E
KE
LaMorte
Vickie J
VJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D000071156:Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000071156:Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; C070576:PML protein, human