C-kit overexpression in neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
OBJECTIVE
Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (NESCC) grows aggressively, and is resistant to anticancer agents and radiation, having an extremely poor prognosis. The incidence of c-kit proto-oncogene overexpression is high in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and small cell lung cancer, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been used effectively to treat GISTs. Few studies have investigated whether c-kit is overexpressed in NESCC. To investigate whether NESCC can be a target for molecular targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we examined the expression of c-kit in this tumor.


METHODS
Twenty-one NESCCs were examined for c-kit expression by immunohistochemical staining using the labeled streptavidin-biotin complex (LSAB) method. The expression of c-kit was regarded as positive (overexpression) and negative when the membrane and cytoplasm of more or less than 25%, respectively, of tumor cells were stained.


RESULTS
Nine NESCCs (43%) were c-kit-positive (overexpression). No difference in age or clinical stage was noted. No difference in prognosis was observed between the c-kit-positive and -negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of c-kit overexpression was high in NESCC; therefore, the patients with this tumor may become a future target for molecular-targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Ohwada
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Kawachi, Tochigi, Japan.
Wada
T
T
Saga
Y
Y
Tsunoda
S
S
Jobo
T
T
Kuramoto
H
H
Konno
R
R
Suzuki
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit