Analysis of human kallikrein 7 expression as a potential biomarker in cervical neoplasia

Int J Cancer. 2010 Jul 15;127(2):485-90. doi: 10.1002/ijc.25046.

Abstract

Overexpression of kallikrein 7, a proteolytic enzyme important for epithelial cell shedding, may be causally involved in carcinogenesis, particularly in tumor metastasis and invasion. In this study, we have evaluated hK7 (human kallikrein 7) protein levels by immunohistochemistry in 367 cervical histological samples including 35 cases of cervicitis, 31 low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 51 high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (H-SIL), 197 squamous cervical carcinomas (SCC) and 53 cervical adenocarcinomas. We have observed that hK7 staining increased with the severity of cervical disease. Intense hK7 staining was found in 15.2% of cervicitis samples, in contrast to 55% of H-SIL and 68% of SCC. Moreover, 92.5% of adenocarcinomas also exhibited intense hK7 staining. Differences in the expression of hK7 could potentially be used as a biomarker for the characterization of different stages of cervical disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Kallikreins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervicitis / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervicitis / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • KLK7 protein, human
  • Kallikreins