title: NR2F6 Expression Correlates with Pelvic Lymph Node Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an abnormal expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 6 (NR2F6) in human cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and acute myelogenous leukemia. However, its clinical significance in cervical cancer has not been established. We explored NR2F6 expression and its clinicopathological significance in early-stage cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  NR2F6 expression in cervical cancer cell lines and cervical cancer tissues was determined by Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunochemistry (IHC). NR2F6 expression in 189 human early-stage cervical cancer tissue samples was evaluated using IHC. The relevance between NR2F6 expression and early-stage cervical cancer prognosis and clinicopathological features was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was marked NR2F6 mRNA and protein overexpression in the cervical cancer cells and clinical tissues compared with an immortalized squamous cell line and adjacent noncancerous cervical tissues, respectively. In the 189 cervical cancer samples, NR2F6 expression was positively related to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (p= 0.006), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (p= 0.006), vital status (p< 0.001), tumor recurrence (p =0.001), chemotherapy (p =0.039), and lymph node metastasis (p< 0.001). Overall and disease-free survival was shorter in patients with early-stage cervical cancer and higher NR2F6 levels than in patients with lower levels of NR2F6. Univariate and multivariate analysis determined that NR2F6 was an independent prognostic factor of survival in early-stage cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our findings suggest that high NR2F6 expression predicts pelvic lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence and poor prognosis in early-stage cervical cancer. NR2F6 might be a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target of cervical cancer.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. niuchh@sysucc.org.cn.
authors: Chunhao
authors: C
authors: Niu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. sunxiaoy@sysucc.org.cn.
authors: Xiaoying
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. zhangwj@sysucc.org.cn.
authors: Weijing
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. lihan@sysucc.org.cn.
authors: Han
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Department of Gynecology, Women and Children Hospital of Guangdong Province, No. 13, Guang Yuan Road, Guangzhou 510060, China. xuliqunyang@126.com.
authors: Liqun
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. lijun37@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Yangtzeu University, Jingzhou 434000, China. xubenkehb@163.com.
authors: Benke
authors: B
authors: Xu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 651, Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. zhangyn@sysucc.org.cn.
authors: Yanna
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C075835:NR2F6 protein, human; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012097:Repressor Proteins
keywords: NR2F6 (nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 6); biomarker; cervical cancer; lymph node metastasis; prognosis