Expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in vulvar carcinomas and its relation to prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in vulvar squamous cell carcinomas and investigate their prognostic relevance.


METHODS
Tumours from 224 patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinomas were investigated for expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 using single and double immunostaining methods.


RESULTS
High expression (strong/moderate staining intensity) of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 was observed in 114 (51%) and 126 (56%) vulvar carcinomas, respectively. In the three cases tested using the double immunostaining method, colocalisation of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 proteins was identified in the same neoplastic cells. High EphA2 expression was significantly correlated to high expression of EphrinA-1 (p<0.01) and cyclin A (p<0.01), large tumour size (p = 0.03), deep invasion (p<0.01) and higher FIGO stage (p = 0.05). A correlation between high EphrinA-1 expression and high levels of cyclin A (p<0.01) and p21 (p<0.01), deep invasion (p<0.01) and higher FIGO stage (p = 0.01) was also seen. In univariate analysis, high expression of EphrinA-1 was associated with poor survival (p = 0.03). However, in the multivariate analysis neither EphrinA-1 nor EphA2 were significantly correlated to survival.


CONCLUSIONS
EphA2 and EphrinA-1 were overexpressed in 51% and 56% of the vulvar squamous cell carcinomas, respectively, and high levels of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 proteins were associated with deep tumour invasion and high FIGO stage. However, EphA2 and EphrinA-1 were not independently associated with clinical outcome in vulvar carcinomas.
Holm
R
R
Department of Pathology, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center, Oslo, Norway. ruth.holm@radiumhospitalet.no
Knopp
S
S
Suo
Z
Z
Tropè
C
C
Nesland
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D036382:Ephrin-A1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D036104:Receptor, EphA2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036382:Ephrin-A1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D036104:Receptor, EphA2