Seventy-two cervical pathology specimens, consisting of samples of cancer and high- and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, were used in a study exploring the involvement of nm23-H1/NDP kinase in carcinogenesis or recurrence. Additionally, the relationships between immunohistochemical expression of nm23-H1 and various clinicopathological variables for early-stage cervical cancer were evaluated. The nm23-H1 expression for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma samples was significantly elevated when compared to low-grade analogs. Only deep stromal invasion was significantly associated with high nm23 expression. Moreover, a high cumulative recurrence hazard was demonstrated for the high nm23 expression group. In conclusion, high nm23-H1 expression may induce cellular proliferation for the progression from low- to high- grade intraepithelial neoplasia, with the subsequent emergence of invasive carcinoma as well as deep stromal invasion, and can be used as an indicator of prognosis.
Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel