Reduced expression of ΔNp63α in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: As a member of the p53 family, p63 is considered to be an important differentiation regulation transcriptional factor, but the roles of p63 in many epithelial tumourigenesis and metastasis processes are still not clear. This study was designed to investigate the expression of p63 and its isoform in normal tissues and squamous cell cancer tissues of uterine cervix, and its signi(cance in cancer cell differentiation. Methods: The expression of p63 was assessed in cervical tissue and cell lines by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western Blotting. The relationships between p63 protein, various clinico-pathological features, and the differentiation marker involucrin were analyzed. Results: ΔNp63α is the predominant isoform expressed in cervical epithelial tissues, and it is decreased in moderately or poorly differentiated cervical squamous carcinoma, as well as in the HeLa, SiHa and C33A cervical cancer cell lines. The expression level of ΔNp63α was positively correlated with that of involucrin in cervical squamous cancer tissue, and the expression of ΔNp63α is decreased with the degree of tumour invasion. Conclusion: The decrease of ΔNp63α in cervical squamous cell cancer appears to be associated with the tumour progression, and ΔNp63α may be a sensitive marker for cervical squamous cancer differentiation. © 2011 CIM.