Expression of Apaf-1 in cervical cancer correlates with lymph node metastasis but not with intratumoral hypoxia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the proapoptotic protein Apaf-1 in cervical cancers. Moreover, we studied its correlation to intratumoral pO(2) and to clinico-pathological parameters.


METHODS
86 patients with cervical cancer were subjected to intratumoral pO(2) measurement with the Eppendorf electrode. From these patients, cervical cancer tissue was used for immunohistochemistry with an anti-Apaf-1 antibody.


RESULTS
Apaf-1 is expressed in cervical cancer. Cervical cancers with strong or moderate Apaf-1 expression had significantly less lymph node metastases at time of surgery than tumors with weak or negative Apaf-1 expression (P = 0.022). There was no significant correlation between Apaf-1 expression and intratumoral pO(2), pT stage, FIGO stage, lymphovascular space involvement, and grade.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of Apaf-1 expression may represent a marker of aggressive tumor behavior since it correlates significantly with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer.
Leo
Cornelia
C
Department of Gynecology, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. leo@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Richter
Christine
C
Horn
Lars-Christian
LC
Schütz
Alexander
A
Pilch
Henryk
H
Höckel
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D011506:Proteins; D010100:Oxygen