Expression of TADG-15 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

Lee, Jeong Won; Lee, Ji Eun; Min, Jung Ae; Lee, Sun Joo; Song, Sang Yong; Kim, Byoung Gie; Park, Chang Soo; Son, Young Soo; Lee, Je Ho; Bae, Duk Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Tumor-associated differentially expressed gene-15 (TADG-15/Matriptase/MT-SP1) is an epithelial-derived, integral serine protease which has been implicated in the progression of epithelial tumors. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression pattern of TADG-15 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and investigate the different expressions according to presence of lymph node metastasis.
METHODS
Tumor specimens were obtained from each 20 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) with and without lymph node (LN) metastasis. Normal cervical tissues as control were obtained from 10 patients with myoma uteri. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with antibody to TADG-15.
RESULTS
The immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of TADG-15 was undetectable in all normal squamous epithelia, but had variable staining in the basal layer of normal endocervical glands. The expression of TADG-15, exhibiting cytoplasmic and membranous staining, were significantly up-regulated in almost all (95%) of the ISCC in comparison to the normal control (P<0.001). But the expression of TADG-15 was not significantly different between ISCC with and ISCC without LN metastasis (P=0.56). However there was increasing tendency of expression in ISCC with LN metastasis in comparison to ISCC without LN metastasis.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that TADG-15 may play a significant role in carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and may represent novel markers for this disease. Further studies of serine protease and TADG-15 gene will likely result in the development of novel approaches for early detection and therapy of this disease.