Nectin-1 expression in the normal and neoplastic human uterine cervix.
BACKGROUND
Nectin-1 is an immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecule that is widely expressed in epithelial tissues and participates in the formation of adherens junctions. Reduced expression of nectin-1 has been reported in invasive carcinomas of the human skin.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the pattern of nectin-1 expression in the normal, dysplastic, and neoplastic human uterine cervix.


METHODS
This retrospective study was performed using immunohistochemistry of specimens of normal mucosa (n = 18) and preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions of the human uterine cervix including squamous dysplasia and invasive uterine cervical squamous carcinoma (n = 23). All specimens were graded according to intensity of cytoplasmic staining (0 = no staining; 4 = strongest intensity).


RESULTS
Strong widespread cytoplasmic nectin-1 reactivity was found in normal uterine cervical squamous and endocervical mucosa (mean grade = 2.63). In contrast, uterine cervical and endocervical stroma showed minimal to absent staining (mean grade = 0.58). There was a significant difference in staining intensity between normal mucosa versus stroma (P < .001, Wilcoxon matched pairs- signed ranks test). All squamous dysplasia and carcinoma specimens displayed strong cytoplasmic nectin-1 staining (mean grade = 3.08). The advancing edge of these carcinomas demonstrated significantly decreased or absent expression of nectin-1 (mean grade = 1.39) with significant difference in staining intensity at the center of invasive tumors versus the advancing edge (P = .004, Wilcoxon matched pairs-signed ranks test).


CONCLUSIONS
Normal squamous mucosa, dysplasia, and invasive carcinomas of the human uterine cervix stain strongly with nectin-1, and this staining is reduced or absent in the advancing edge of invasive tumors. These findings suggest that down-regulation of nectin-1 may be associated with the loss of cell-to-cell adhesion at the advancing edge of invasive squamous carcinomas of the human uterine cervix.
Guzman
Grace
G
Department of Pathology, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago. graceguz@uic.edu
Oh
Stephen
S
Shukla
Deepak
D
Valyi-Nagy
Tibor
T
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075983:Nectins; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C000619010:NECTIN1 protein, human; D000075983:Nectins