title: Changes in activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9 in human cervical malignancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The apoptotic process of programmed cell death and its dysfunctions in a variety of human diseases, including cervical cancer, has become the focus of extensive scientific research. Caspases are considered key factors in the execution of apoptosis, although there are many aspects of their role to be elucidated. It has been found that disturbance of initiator caspase-8 and caspase-9 expression or function may contribute to cancer formation/progression, and inactivation of them could promote resistance to current treatment approaches. In our research, the activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9 have been estimated during the progression of human cervical malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental material includes human cervical tissue samples (normal and pathological), in which enzyme activities have been measured colorimetrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9 presented the highest increase, compared to the controls, in the low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples (statistically significant, P < 0.01 by t test). The activities diminished in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and even more in the cancer samples but remained higher than the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed changes in the activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9 could be attributed to their involvement in the cervical tissue's effort to resist malignancy progression.
authors: Laboratory of General Biology and Genetics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Maria Themistokli
authors: MT
authors: Ekonomopoulou
authors: Evaggelos
authors: E
authors: Babas
authors: Eleutheria
authors: E
authors: Mioglou-Kalouptsi
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Malandri
authors: Zafiroula
authors: Z
authors: Iakovidou-Kritsi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9