Vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinases, and cyclooxygenase-2 influence prognosis of uterine cervical cancer in young women.
Recent changes in the lifestyle of young women have led to an increase in the rate of uterine cervical cancer. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of uterine cervical cancer in young women, and examined the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Tumor samples from 439 patients with uterine cervical cancer, who were initially treated at Osaka City University Medical School Hospital, Japan between 1995 and 2004, were stained immunohistochemically. The patients were classified into two groups according to age at onset: group Y included women aged < or =35 years, and group O included women aged > or =36 years. Group Y had more cases of squamous cell carcinoma, while group O had more advanced cases (P<0.05). Advanced cases (beyond stage Ib2) had a significantly worse prognosis in group Y than in group O (P<0.05). There were no differences between the two groups in the expressions of VEGF, MMP-2 and COX-2. However, in advanced cases (beyond stage Ib2), the expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and COX-2 was significantly greater in group Y than in group O (P<0.05). The above findings suggest that the expression of VEGF, MMPs and COX-2 is related to a worse prognosis for advanced uterine cervical cancer in young women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Maiko
M
Noriyuki
Toshiyuki
T
Sumi
Xu
X
Zhi
Fumiko
F
Misugi
Hiroyuki
H
Nobeyama
Hiroyuki
H
Yoshida
Yoshinari
Y
Matsumoto
Tomoyo
T
Yasui
Ken-Ichi
K
Honda
Osamu
O
Ishiko
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9