The Aberrant Expression of FHIT Transcripts in Uterine Cervical Cancer using Laser-capture Microdissection

Choi, Suck Chul; Kim, Byoung Gie; Bae, Duk Soo; Moon, Hyung Bae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to determine the exact pattern of FHIT expression of the cervical carcinoma cell per se by microdissection and to investigate the clinical significance of the FHIT alteration in cervical cancer.
METHODS
RT-PCR for FHIT transcript was performed in 18 cervical cancer tissues. Microdissection was performed using laser capture microdissection device and RNA was extracted by RT-nested PCR. PCR products were compared with known aberrant FHIT transcripts. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate correlation between the altered expression of FHIT protein and clinical parameters.
RESULTS
Six different size of aberrant FHIT transcripts were observed in cervical cancer tissues. Six of 18 (33.3%) cervical cancer sections exhibited full-length normal FHIT transcript only. Aberrant FHIT transcripts with normal one were observed in 9 (50%) and only aberrant transcripts in 3 (16.7%) frozen sections. Five normal cervical tissues expressed only a normal FHIT transcript. The sequences of the 6 different sizes of aberrant FHIT transcripts showed (1) deletion of exons 4-8, (2) deletion of exons 4-7, (3) deletion of exons 5-8, (4) deletion of exons 5-7, (5) deletion of exons 5-7 and insertion of intronic sequences, 153 bp, (6) deletion of exons 5-7 and insertion of intronic sequences, 84 bp. Microdissection of paired cervical tumor and normal stroma showed expression of aberrant FHIT transcripts only in tumor tissues.
CONCLUSION
Aberrant FHIT expression was observed frequently in cervical carcinoma and they were observed mainly in cervical cancer cells by microdissection, but not in normal stromal cells. However, absence of FHIT expression did not correlate with clinical prognostic factors in cervical carcinoma.