The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor as a marker of dysplastic alterations in cervical epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Cervical cancer is a leading cancer in women worldwide. The Papanicolaou test (Pap test) remains the main screening tool; however, it produces high rates of false-negative and false-positive results. Gastrin-releasing peptide is a growth factor that has been implicated in many cancers, and its main receptor, the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), is nearly always expressed in cervical dysplasias and invasive carcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of GRPR immunocytochemistry in detecting cervical dysplasia and invasive cancer.


METHODS
Cervical smears were collected from 66 women in Brazil and subjected to GRPR immunocytochemistry and the Pap test. GRPR and p16 immunohistochemistry were performed in biopsies if abnormalities were detected.


RESULTS
GRPR immunostaining sensitivity in detecting cervical lesions was 87.5% and its specificity was 76.7%. GRPR immunostaining showed 80% accuracy in identifying atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), with 88% sensitivity and 71% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first immunocytochemical evaluation of GRPR expression in cervical epithelial cells. This biomarker was strongly associated with cervical dysplasia and invasive cancers. GRPR immunosignaling showed high accuracy in detecting dysplasias in cells classified as ASCUS by Pap tests. Based on these results, immunocytochemistry for GRPR may be regarded as a valuable method for early detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Cancer Research Laboratory, University Hospital Research Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. danicornelio@terra.com.br
Daniela Baumann
DB
Cornelio
Luise
L
Meurer
Gilberto
G
Schwartsmann
Rafael
R
Roesler
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000032:analysis*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000614131:CDKN2A protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin