title: Overexpression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is associated with human cervical cancer malignancy, progression and prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) to cervical cancer progression and prognosis by examining CFTR expression levels in different cervical tissues and cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin-embedded cervical tissue samples (n=192) were collected for immunohistochemistry (IHC), while fresh cervical tissue samples (n=165) and human cervical cell lines were collected for protein and mRNA detection by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Correlations between CFTR expression levels to cancer clinicopathologic features and prognosis were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CFTR mRNA and protein expression gradually increased from normal to precancerous (LSIL, HSIL) and cervical cancer tissues (p<0.05). Furthermore, CFTR expression level was well-correlated to tumor stage (p<0.001), histological grades (p<0.001), lymphatic metastasis (p<0.001), vascular invasion (p<0.05), interstitial invasive depth (p<0.05), tumor size (p<0.05) and HPV infection (p<0.05). In vitro, CFTR mRNA and protein were expressed strongly both in SiHa and HeLa, but little was seen in Caski and H8 (p<0.05). More importantly, overexpression of CFTR conferred significantly poorer survival in cervical carcinoma (Log rank p=0.028), although it was not an independent predictor for prognosis according to multivariate analysis (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that higher CFTR expression is closely associated with cervical cancer progression, aggressive behaviors and poorer prognosis, indicating that CFTR may function as a novel tumor marker, a prospective prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Ultrasonics/Gynecological Oncology Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jinke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hsiao Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator