title: Prognostic value of nuclear factor κ B expression in patients with advanced cervical cancer undergoing radiation therapy followed by hysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB) family comprises transcription factors that promote the development and progression of cancer. The NF-κB pathway is induced by radiation therapy and may be related to tumour radioresistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of NF-κB as a predictor of the response to radiotherapy and its value as a prognostic marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed in a series of 32 individuals with stage IB2 and IIB cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy, followed by radical hysterectomy, from January 1992 to June 2001. NF-κB-p65 and NF-κB-p50 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in biopsies from all patients before radiotherapy and in 12 patients with residual tumours after radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  16 (50%) patients had residual disease after radical hysterectomy. The median follow-up time was 73.5 months, and the 5-year overall survival was 66.5%. Before radiotherapy, cytoplasmic expression of NF-κB-p65 and NF-κB-p50 was noted in 91% and 97% of cases, respectively, versus 59% of cases with nuclear expression of these subunits. Cytoplasmic expression of NF-κB-p65 and NF-κB-p50 in the residual tumours after radiotherapy was observed in 50% of cases; 75% of cases with residual tumours had nuclear expression of NF-κB-p50 versus none with NF-κB-p65. NF-κB-p65 and NF-κB-p50 did not correlate with the risk of residual tumours after radiotherapy or recurrence or death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that NF-κB does not predict the response to radiotherapy and does not correlate with poor outcomes in advanced cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, AC Camargo Cancer Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil. glbaiocchi@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Glauco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: Maria Dirlei
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Begnami
authors.forename: Elza Mieko
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fukazawa
authors.forename: Renato Almeida Rosa
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Carlos Chaves
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Faloppa
authors.forename: Lillian Yuri
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Levon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badiglian-Filho
authors.forename: Antonio Cassio Assis
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pellizzon
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida Conte
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Alexandre Arthur
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jacinto
authors.forename: Fernando Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Ademar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016328:NF-kappa B