Open AccessLaminin‐5γ2 chain expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical carcinoma
Author(s) -
Noel J.C.,
FernandezAguilar S.,
Fayt I.,
Buxant F.,
Ansion M.H.,
Simon P.,
Anaf V.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00879.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia , pathology , laminin , carcinoma in situ , dysplasia , immunohistochemistry , cervix , intraepithelial neoplasia , carcinoma , carcinogenesis , cervical cancer , cancer , biology , cell , prostate cancer , genetics
Background. To analyze the expression of laminin‐5γ2 chain, a protein which plays a major role in keratinocyte migration, in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and invasive cervical carcinoma associated with high‐risk oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HR‐HPVs). Material and methods. The expression of laminin‐5γ2 chain protein has been analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 17 cases of low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL‐CIN1), 35 high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL‐CIN2/3), 18 microinvasive or invasive carcinomas, and three metastatic lymph nodes. All these lesions have been proved to contain HR‐HPVs and were also positive for p16 protein which classically is overexpressed at all stages of cervical neoplasia and dysplasia linked with HR‐HPVs. 20 cases of normal cervix served as controls. Results. The expression of laminin‐5γ2 chain protein was observed in 100% of invasive or microinvasive carcinoma and in their related lymph node metastasis with an immunoreactivity located preferentially at the invasive front of the lesions. All the HSILs (100%) associated with invasive carcinoma were also positive. In contrast, in HSILs without associated invasive component, the expression of the protein has been found in only 34% of cases. In positive HSILs, laminin‐5γ2 protein was expressed in basal layers. In LSILs and normal epithelium, no expression of the protein was noted. Conclusions. We conclude the following: (i) the expression of laminin‐5γ2 is a late event in cervical carcinogenesis increasing with the grade of dysplastic lesions; (ii) laminin‐5γ2 expression facilitates the identification of invasive and microinvasive lesions which could be difficult to diagnose on the basis of routine stains; (iii) laminin‐5γ2 expression in HSILs could potentially identify those lesions with a more increased risk of tumor progression.