Tumor markers of uterine cervical cancer: a new scenario to guide surgical practice?

Determining the effect of long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (lncRNA MEG3) on the transcriptome profile in cervical cancer cell lines

This study investigates the role of the long non-coding RNA Maternally Expressed Gene3 (lncRNA MEG3) gene in cervical cancer, as evidenced by its downregulation in cancerous cell lines. The study demonstrates the effects of the overexpression of lncRNA MEG3 in cervical cancer cell lines, particularly in C33A and CaSki. Through comprehensive analyses, including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), alterations in global mRNA expression were analyzed. In C33A cells, 67 genes were upregulated, while 303 genes were downregulated. Similarly, in CaSki cells, 221 genes showed upregulation and 248 genes displayed downregulation. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses were conducted to gain insight into potential mechanisms. Furthermore, the study delves into gene regulatory networks, uncovering intricate interactions among genes. The RNA sequencing data were confirmed for eight genes: PAX3, EGR2, ROR1, NRP1, OAS2, STRA6, CA9, and EDN2 by Real-time PCR. The findings illuminate the complex landscape of gene expression alterations and pathways impacted by the overexpression of lncRNA MEG3. The impact of MEG3 on the overall cervical cancer cells' mRNA profile is reported for the first time. New biomarkers for the prognosis of cervical cancer are also reported in this study. Moreover, identifying specific genes within the regulatory networks provides valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for managing cervical cancer.

Randomized experimental population-based study to evaluate the acceptance and completion of and preferences for cervical cancer screening

Cervical cancer has high incidence and mortality rates, especially in less-developed countries. Prevention methods are well established, but there are still barriers preventing some Brazilian women from undergoing a Pap sample. The objective of the study was to evaluate the acceptance, preferences and completion of four screening methods. This has an experimental design (community trial). A total of 164 participants who had never had a Pap sample or had not had one for more than three years were included. The city's urban area was stratified by census tracts and divided according to income and education levels. Women belonging to the lower-income strata were considered in the study. Random blocks were numbered into five intervention groups (Group 1- Pap sample at the hospital; Group 2- Pap sample in the mobile unit; Group 3- urine self-collection; Group 4- vaginal self-collection; Group 5- woman's choice). Only 164 women met all of the eligibility criteria (15.3%). Most of them accepted the assigned method (92%), but only 84% of the women completed the collection step. The acceptance rates were as follows: Group 1 (100%), Group 2 (64.5%), Group 3 (100%) and Group 4 (91.4%). In Group 5, the women's preferences were distributed as follows: examination performed at the hospital, 13 women (33.3%); examination performed at the mobile unit, 11 women (28.2%); urine self-collection, 11 women (28.2%); and vaginal self-collection, 4 women (10.3%). This study suggests that methods that allow cervical sampling collected near the women's domicile might improve the acceptance and completion of preventive tests. This finding is relevant for the development of new cervical cancer screening strategies.

A nomogram model based on SII, AFR, and NLR to predict infectious complications of laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors associated with postoperative infectious complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer and to develop a prediction model based on these factors.

METHODS

This study enrolled patients who underwent selective laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer between 2019 and 2024. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with postoperative infectious complications. A nomogram prediction model was subsequently constructed and evaluated using R software.

RESULTS

Out of 301 patients were enrolled and 38 patients (12.6%) experienced infectious complications within one month postoperatively. Six variables were independent risk factors for postoperative infectious complications: age ≥ 60 (OR: 3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-8.79, P = 0.038), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24.0 (OR: 3.70, 95%CI: 1.4-9.26, P = 0.005), diabetes (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.10-7.73, P = 0.032), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) ≥ 830 (OR: 6.95, 95% CI: 2.53-19.07, P < 0.001), albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) < 9.25 (OR: 4.94, 95% CI: 2.02-12.07, P < 0.001), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥ 3.45 (OR: 7.53, 95% CI: 3.04-18.62, P < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated an area under the curve (AUC) of this nomogram model of 0.928, a sensitivity of 81.0%, and a specificity of 92.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram model, incorporating age, BMI, diabetes, SII, AFR, and NLR, demonstrated strong predictive capabilities for postoperative infectious complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Targeting WEE1 Kinase in Gynecological Malignancies

WEE1 kinase is involved in the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint control and DNA damage repair. A functional G2/M checkpoint is crucial for DNA repair in cancer cells with p53 mutations since they lack a functional G1/S checkpoint. Targeted inhibition of WEE1 kinase may cause tumor cell apoptosis, primarily, in the p53-deficient tumor, via bypassing the G2/M checkpoint without properly repairing DNA damage, resulting in genome instability and chromosomal deletion. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological role of WEE1 kinase and the potential of WEE1 inhibitor (WEE1i) for treating gynecological malignancies. We conducted a thorough literature search from 2001 to September 2023 in prominent databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane, utilizing appropriate keywords of WEE1i and gynecologic oncology. WEE1i has been shown to inhibit tumor activity and enhance the sensitivity of chemotherapy or radiotherapy in preclinical models, particularly in p53-mutated gynecologic cancer models, although not exclusively. Recently, WEE1i alone or combined with genotoxic agents has confirmed its efficacy and safety in Phase I/II gynecological malignancies clinical trials. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that other inhibitors of DNA damage pathways show synthetic lethality with WEE1i, and WEE1 modulates therapeutic immune responses, providing a rationale for the combination of WEE1i and immune checkpoint blockade. In this review, we summarize the biological function of WEE1 kinase, development of WEE1i, and outline the preclinical and clinical data available on the investigation of WEE1i for treating gynecologic malignancies.

Circular RNAs and cervical cancer: friends or foes? A landscape on circRNA-mediated regulation of key signaling pathways involved in the onset and progression of HPV-related cervical neoplasms

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common gynecologic malignancy, accounting for a significant proportion of women death worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the major etiological causes leading to CC onset; however, genetic, and epigenetic factors are also responsible for disease expansion. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are known as a particular subset of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) superfamily, with covalently closed loop structures, have been reported to be involved in the progression of diverse diseases, especially neoplasms. In this framework, abnormally expressed circRNAs are in strong correlation with CC pathogenesis through regulating substantial signaling pathways. Also, these RNA molecules can be considered as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CC diagnosis/prognosis and treatment, respectively. Herein, we first review key molecular mechanisms, including Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways, as well as angiogenesis and metastasis, by which circRNAs interfere with CC development. Then, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potentials of these ncRNA molecules will be highlighted in depth.

Changes in T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with middle-advanced cervical cancer before and after nimotuzumab combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy

The current study sought to investigate the effect of nimotuzumab combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT + Nim) on T lymphocyte subsets in middle-advanced CC. Firstly, patients with middle-advanced CC were administered CCRT or CCRT + Nim. Next, levels of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of CC patients pre- or post-treatment and healthy females were determined by flow cytometry. The short-term efficacy was evaluated, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients were recorded. In addition, the correlation of T lymphocyte subsets post-treatment with OS/PFS was assessed with Pearson analysis. CC patients exhibited decreased total T cells/T helper cells/CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio and increased T suppressor cells/Tregs in peripheral blood. Meanwhile, CCRT and CCRT + Nim improved T lymphocyte subset imbalance, with CCRT + Nim exhibiting better efficacy. CCRT + Nim exhibited better short-term efficacy and higher PFS than CCRT, with no evident difference in OS. The levels of total T cells/T helper cells/T suppressor cells/Tregs were not significantly-correlated with OS/PFS, and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio was correlated with PFS but not OS. Collectively, CCRT + nimotuzumab ameliorate the imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of middle-advanced CC patients, and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio after therapy is correlated with PFS.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The utilisation of Nimotuzumab targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as an efficient treatment for middle-advanced cervical cancer (CC) has garnered the attention of numerous researchers over the years. T cells represent a major immune cell type in the tumour microenvironment and serve as the basis for maintaining cellular immune functions.What do the results of this study add? Our findings revealed that nimotuzumab combined with CCRT improves the abnormality of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with middle-advanced CC, such that the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio after treatment was significantly correlated with progression-free survival (PFS).What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? CCRT of CC may have a short-term negative impact on the peripheral T-cell immune micro-environment, and the combination of nimotuzumab, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and radiotherapy enhances the frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood. Our findings illustrated that nimotuzumab combined with CCRT can improve the imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with middle-advanced CC. A better understanding of the mechanisms of these therapies will optimise the selection of patients most likely to benefit from treatment, serving as a reference for further research on the relationship between EGFR-specific T cells and clinical benefit in patients treated with nimotuzumab in combination with CCRT.

Vaginal microecological changes of different degrees of cervical lesions in Hakka women in Meizhou City

Research shows an association between vaginal microbiota and the development of cervical cancer, but the role of altered microbiota in cancer development remains controversial. In this study, we attempted to reveal the vaginal microecological changes in cervical lesions by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Vaginal secretions were collected from Hakka women in Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, China. The diversity, composition and the correlations among species of the vaginal microbiota were determined by sequencing the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The microbial functional abundance was detected via KEGG and COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups). The results showed that the Cancer group was characterised by evident changes in the composition of the vaginal microbiota, increased alpha diversity, and altered community structure distribution and microbial interaction network. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size showed that 21 bacterial species were abundant in the Cancer group. In addition, the loss of Lactobacillus stimulated other flora proliferation, resulting in a microecological disturbance. KEGG and COG analysis indicated the cancer group is mainly concentrated in energy metabolism. In short, the vaginal microecology of Hakka women in Meizhou City presents with different degrees of cervical lesions, and the flora imbalance is an important factor in the development of cervical cancer.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies worldwide and has become a prominent public health problem.What the results of this study add? Our study showed that the type of vaginal community status of Hakka women in Meizhou area was characterised by L. Iners predominates, and the gradual loss of Lactobacillus dominance in vaginal bacteria is key to microecological imbalance.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Disturbances in vaginal microecology can stimulate energy metabolism and lipid metabolism to induce cervical cancer development.

Anti-tumour and radiosensitising effects of PARP inhibitor on cervical cancer xenografts

This study evaluated the radiosensitising effect of niraparib; a poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor on HeLa cervical cancer cells in nude mice and explored its possible mechanism. Twenty-four 3-5-week-old female BALB/c nude mice, inoculated with HeLa cells into the right hind leg, were randomly assigned into eight groups with three mice per group and treated. The tumour volume was significantly reduced under niraparib + radiotherapy combination as compared to monotherapy and untreated mice. The tumour growth was significantly delayed by 23.33-39 days when treated with combination therapy (p<.05). Further, univariate analysis revealed prolonged time for tumour growth when radiotherapy was followed by niraparib (I.G.) rather than niraparib (I.P.) (p=.003). Combination therapy reduced levels of PARP-1 precursor, PARP-1 splicer, PAR and RAD51 protein with high expression of γ-H2AX/CC3 and low expression of Ki-67. Niraparib in combination with radiotherapy can enhance the formation of DNA double strand breaks in HeLa cells and up regulate the expression of γ-H2AX/CC3.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Asia has the highest incidence of cervical cancer (58.2%). Poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are family of enzymes involved in single-strand break (SSB) and double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways. Niraparib is an effective inhibitor of both PARP-1 and PARP-2 and has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.What the results of this study add? Our study demonstrated that the combination of niraparib and radiotherapy can significantly enhance the cytotoxicity induced by radiotherapy. The inhibition effect of radiotherapy combined with niraparib on the tumour growth of mice was prominent, thereby establishing the radio-sensitisation activity of niraparib.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Niraparib can improve the cytotoxic effect of radiotherapy by increasing the formation of DSBs and up regulating the expression of apoptotic protein in HeLa cells.

Analysis of prognostic factors for cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma and establishment and validation a nomogram: a SEER-based study

Up to now, there are no relevant studies on prognostic factors of cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma. Therefore, we explored the prognostic factors for cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma, and established and validated the prognostic model using the SEER database. We selected the independent factors through univariate and multivariate analyses. LASSO regression analysis was conducted to identify potential risk factors. In conjunction with LASSO and multivariate analysis, the nomogram incorporated three variables, including age, tumour size, and AJCC stage for OS. The c-index was 0.794 and 0.831 in development and validated cohorts, indicating that this prediction model showed adequate discriminative ability in the development cohort. Besides, calibration curves showed good concordance for the development cohort, as well as the validation cohort. We constructed a first-of-its-kind nomogram to predict cervical mucinous adenocarcinomas OS and it showed better performance than AJCC and FIGO stages. Patients with cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma might benefit from using this model to develop tailored treatments.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Cervical cancer has a variety of pathological types. The biological behaviour of each type is different, and the prognosis is quite different.What do the results of this study add? We analysed and explored the relevant factors affecting the prognosis of cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Through the analysis of the SEER dataset, the prognostic factors affecting cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma were identified, and the first predictive model was created to predict the prognosis to help doctors develop individualised treatment plans and follow-up plans.

Upregulation of miRNA-10a-5p promotes tumor progression in cervical cancer by suppressing UBE2I signaling

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common malignant neoplasm in gynecology. There is increasing evidence to suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as crucial regulators of CC. However, whether miR-10a-5p plays a role in CC is under investigation. The aim of this stuy was to assess the miR-10a-5p expression pattern in the development of CC and investigate its downstream target. MiR-10a-5p inhibition decreased CC cell proliferation and impaired CC cell invasion and migration but enhanced apoptosis. UBE2I was a direct target of miR-10a-5p. QRT-PCR results showed a down-regulation of UBE2I in CC cells, opposing miR-10a-5p. Besides, overexpression of miR-10a-5p down-regulated UBE2I. Functional rescue experiments further indicated the miR-10a-5p-UBE2I axis was linked to CC cell growth, apoptosis and metastasis. MiR-10a-5p upregulation promotes cervical cancer development by inhibiting UBE2I. These results also predict that miR-10a-5p may be a potential target for the clinical treatment of CC.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? As a widely researched cancer-related miRNA, the overexpression of miR-10a-5p has been verified in various cancers. It has been described in a meta-analysis report that there were 42 miRNAs up-regulated and 21 miRNAs down-regulated in different stages of cervical cancer tissue versus healthy tissue.What do the results of this study add? We verified that miR-10a-5p initiates and promotes tumor cell development by decreasing UBE2I abundance. This miR-10a-5p-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of UBE2I is involved in the tumorigenesis, invasion and migration of human cervical cancer.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? These findings provide mechanistic insights into how miR-10a-5p regulates cervical cancer hyper-proliferation and metastasis, as well as a new target for clinical treatment. Nevertheless, whether miR-10a-5p/UBE2I axis can be regulated by non-invasive methods need further exploration, which will be the focus of our future research.

Incidence, prognostic factors and a nomogram of cervical cancer with distant organ metastasis: a SEER-based study

This study was to investigate the incidence, survival and prognostic factors of cervical cancer with distant organ metastasis, and to develop a nomogram to predict the prognosis of cervical cancer. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to screen patients diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2010 to 2014. The chi-squared test was used to analyse the differences in clinical characteristics, and we used Kaplan-Meier methods to perform survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate prognostic factors, and we developed a visual nomogram to judge the prognosis. We found that lung metastasis was the most common in cervical cancer patients with distant organ metastasis. Age, race, characteristics of the tumour, and therapy should be considered when analysing the prognosis of cervical cancer patients. The findings of this study may help clinicians to formulate individualised treatment strategies.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Distant organ metastasis of cervical cancer mainly involves lung, bone, liver and brain. Once it occurs, the survival and prognosis will be threatened seriously.What the results of this study add? 4176 patients were included, and lung metastasis was the most common in cervical cancer with distant organ metastasis (3.5%). Additionally, age, race, tumour grade, histological type, T-stage, N-stage, lung, liver and bone metastasis and the treatment mode are significantly related to the outcomes of cervical cancer patients. Furthermore, we developed a nomogram that could predict the probability of three-year and five-year OS.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings of this study may drive more and more studies focussing on the comprehensive prognostic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of distant metastasis of cervical cancer. Besides, clinicians can utilise these findings to formulate individualised treatment strategies.

Relationship between vaginal microecological changes and oncogene E6/E7 and high-risk human papillomavirus infection

High-risk (HR)-human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of precancerous cervical lesions in patients with chronic untreated infection. We investigated the relationships among several vaginal microbiological alterations, oncogene E6/E7 expression, and HR-HPV. A total of 1327 women who underwent HPV screening, vaginal microecology determination, and fluid-based thin-layer cytological test were enrolled and classified into the HPV-negative group, the low-risk (LR)-HPV-positive group, and the HR-HPV-positive group. The status of cervical HPV infection, vaginal microecology, and E6/E7 mRNA expression were examined sequentially. The effect of HR-HPV infection on cervical cancer (CC) was meticulously assessed, and associations between HR-HPV infection and vaginal microecology and E6/E7 mRNA were identified. In total 548/1327 patients were HPV positive, including LR-HPV infection (N = 132) and HR-HPV infection (N = 416). Patients in the HR-HPV positive group revealed higher detection rates of bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomonal vaginitis (TV), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) relative to the HPV negative group. A higher E6/E7 mRNA expression was identified in HR-HPV patients compared to LR-HPV patients. BV and E6/E7 mRNA were classified as independent risk factors for HR-HPV infection. Patients with HR-HPV infection were more susceptible to CC development. Overall, BV and E6/E7 mRNA expression were identified as independent risk factors for HR-HPV infection.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Through literature review, we found that vaginal ecological changes increase the risk of HPV infection, and HPV persistent infection is an important risk factor for cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In addition, HPV gene E6/E7 is expressed in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells, which is related to cell malignant transformation and even tumorigenesis.What do the results of this study add? This study further revealed that bacterial vaginosis (BV) and E6/E7 mRNA were independently correlated with HR-HPV infection, and HR-HPV infection increased the risk of cervical cancer.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? E6/E7 mRNA detection may be used as a new auxiliary diagnostic index for HR-HPV infection. In addition, this study provides a reference for whether the restoration of vaginal microecological balance in patients with BV undergoing clinical treatment is conducive to HR-HPV regression, and provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of cervical cancer microecological approach and the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.

Reactive oxygen species within the vaginal space: An additional promoter of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and uterine cervical cancer development?

Uterine cervical intraepithelial abnormalities and cancer development may also depend upon biological problems that arise as a result of complex molecular disturbances within the vaginal space, in addition to the widely known causative effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Chronic oxidative stress is a consequence of oxygen reduction in the vaginal space. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals are yet unrecognizable causative agents and are probably very important factors for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer development. The intermediate compounds of oxygen reduction on these metabolic pathways are superoxide anion (O 2 ˙ - ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxide ions (OH-), and hydroxyl radical (HO˙). Considering these points, the aim of this work was to summarize how these compounds can damage all molecules, including DNA, of vulnerable metaplastic cervical epithelium. Finally, in some women with a poor immune defense system, ROS alone or accompanied by a high-risk HPV type may promote all levels of CIN and cancer development.

LncRNA ASB16-AS1 accelerates cellular process and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells by regulating GOLM1 expression via targeting miR-3918

BACKGROUND

Reportedly, ovarian cancer (OC) is a major threat to women's health. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ASB16-AS1 has been uncovered to participate in cancer progression. Nevertheless, the role of ASB16-AS1 in OC remains to be revealed.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to unveil the biological function of ASB16-AS1 and its underlying mechanisms in OC cells.

METHODS

QRT-PCR was done to test ASB16-AS1 expression in OC cells. Functional assays were performed to evaluate the malignant behaviors and cisplatin resistance of OC cells. Mechanistic analyses were done to investigate the regulatory molecular mechanism in OC cells.

RESULTS

ASB16-AS1 was found to be highly expressed in OC cells. ASB16-AS1 knockdown repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells, while facilitating cell apoptosis. ASB16-AS1 was further validated to up-regulate GOLM1 through competitively binding with miR-3918. Moreover, miR-3918 overexpression was corroborated to suppress OC cell growth. Rescue assays further uncovered that ASB16-AS1 modulated the malignant processes of OC cells via targeting miR-3918/GOLM1 axis.

CONCLUSION

ASB16-AS1 facilitates the malignant processes and chemoresistance of OC cells via serving as miR-3918 sponge and positively modulating GOLM1 expression.

Analysis of somatic mutations and key driving factors of cervical cancer progression

We investigated the somatic mutations and key driving factors of cervical cancer by whole exome sequencing . We found 22,183 somatic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in 52 paired samples. Somatic SNVs in cervical cancer were significantly higher than those in high-grade intraepithelial lesion and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion groups (P < 0.05). C → T/G accounted for 44.12% of base substitution. Copy number variation (false discovery rate < 0.05) was found in 57 chromosome regions. The three regions with significant differences between cervical cancer and non-cervical cancer groups were 1q21.1, 3q26.33, and 13q33.1, covering genes related to tumor proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The frequency of human papillomavirus (HPV) insertion/integration and the number of "tCw" mutations in the cervical cancer group were significantly higher than those in the non-cervical cancer group (P < 0.05). The total number of mutations was positively correlated with the number of "tCw" mutations (R 2 = 0.7967). HPV insertion/integration (OR = 2.302, CI = 1.523-3.589, P = 0.0005), APOBEC enrichment (OR = 17.875, CI = 2.117-150.937, P = 0.001), and HLA-B*39 in HLA-I (OR = 6.435, CI = 0.823-48.919, P = 0.0042) were risk factors for cervical cancer, while HLA-DQB1*05 in HLA-II was a protective factor (OR = 0.426, CI = 0.197-0.910, P = 0.032). Conclusively, HPV insertion/integration, APOBEC mutagenesis, and HLA polymorphisms are high-risk factors for cervical cancer and may be causes of genome instability and somatic mutations. This study provides experimental data for revealing the molecular mechanism of cervical cancer.

The linkage of NF-κB signaling pathway-associated long non-coding RNAs with tumor microenvironment and prognosis in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

NF-κB signaling pathway participate closely in regulating inflammation and immune response in many cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with NF-κB signaling have not been characterized in cervical cancer. This study revealed the linkage between tumor microenvironment and NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs in cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression profiles of cervical cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were downloaded. NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were screened as a basis to perform molecular subtyping. Immune cell infiltration was assessed by ESTIMATE, Microenvironment Cell Populations (MCP)-counter and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were identified by univariate analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and stepAIC.

RESULTS

Three molecular subtypes or clusters (cluster 3, cluster 2, and cluster 1) were categorized based on 27 prognostic NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs. Cluster 2 had the worst prognosis, highest immune infiltration, as well as the highest expression of most of immune checkpoints. Three clusters showed different sensitivities to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Six key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs were screened to establish a six-lncRNA risk model for predicting cervical cancer prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs played an important role in regulating immune microenvironment. The subtyping based on NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs may assist in the selection of optimal treatments. The six key NF-κB signaling-associated lncRNAs could act as prognostic biomarkers in prognostic prediction for cervical cancer.

Recurrence of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma After More Than 4 Years in the Lung: A Rare Case Report

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is a common gynecological malignancy, typically affecting women of reproductive age. Although the occurrence of late metastatic recurrence in the lung is relatively rare, we present the case of a 52-year-old woman, previously diagnosed and treated for CSCC. After 4 years of disease-free intervals, she presented with respiratory symptoms, including cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis, with marked asthenia. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed a lung mass. Histopathological examination of the lung biopsy confirmed the recurrence of CSCC, specifically in the lung. Immunohistochemistry further supported the origin of the tumor as cervical. The management of such cases necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, considering treatment options such as surgery and chemoradiation. Long-term follow-up and surveillance are vital for the early detection of late recurrences, as they can present several years after the initial diagnosis. This case report highlights the importance of recognizing and appropriately managing cases of late metastatic recurrence of CSCC in the lung. Further studies are needed to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, refine diagnostic approaches, and optimize treatment strategies for such rare occurrences.

Development and Validation of the Promising PPAR Signaling Pathway-Based Prognostic Prediction Model in Uterine Cervical Cancer

A ligand-activated transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) regulates fatty acid uptake and transport. In several studies, upregulation of PPAR expression/activity by cancer cells has been associated with cancer progression. Worldwide, cancer of the cervix ranks fourth among women's cancers. Angiogenesis inhibitors have improved treatment for recurrent and advanced cervical cancer since their introduction 5 years ago. In spite of that, the median overall survival rate for advanced cervical cancer is 16.8 months, indicating that treatment effectiveness is still lacking. Thus, it is imperative that new therapeutic methods be developed. In this work, we first downloaded the PPAR signaling pathway-related genes from the previous study. In addition, the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was applied to calculate the PPAR score of patients with cervical cancer. Furthermore, cervical cancer patients with different PPAR scores show different sensitivity to immune checkpoint therapy. In order to screen the genes to serve as the best biomarker for cervical cancer patients, we then construct the PPAR-based prognostic prediction model. The results revealed that PCK1, MT1A, AL096855.1, AC096711.2, FAR2P2, and AC099568.2 not only play a key role in the PPAR signaling pathway but also show good predictive value in cervical cancer patients. The gene set variation analysis (GSVA) enrichment analysis also proved that the PPAR signaling pathway is one of the most enriched pathways in the prognostic prediction model. Finally, further analysis revealed that AC099568.2 may be the most promising biomarker for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Both the survival analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve demonstrated that AC099568.2 plays a key role in cervical cancer patients. However, to our knowledge, this is the first time a study focused on the role of AC099568.2 in cervical cancer patients. Our work successfully revealed a new biomarker for cervical cancer patients, which also provides a new direction for future research.

Decreasing expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 with efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before radical hysterectomy has been widely used for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC); However, its efficacy is yet to be determined.

METHODS

Effective and predictive biomarkers, which may aid in predicting the chemotherapy responses, were explored in this study. Initially, the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 was detected in 42 paired (pre-NACT and post-NACT) LACC tissues, as well as 40 nonneoplastic cervical epithelial tissues by immunohistochemistry. Then, the correlation of the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, Ki67 with the efficacy of NACT, as well as factors that affect the efficacy of NACT was analyzed.

RESULTS

A clinical response occurred in 66.7% (28/42) of the patients, including 57.1% (16/28) with a complete response and 42.9% (12/28) with a partial response; While 33.33% (14/42) were non-responders, including 42.9% (6/14) with stable disease and 57.1% (8/14) with progressive disease. HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 were overexpressed in LACC tissues compared to nonneoplastic tissues (P < .01, respectively); While the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 was significantly decreased after NACT (P < .01, respectively). What's more, in the response group, HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 expression were significantly decreased after chemotherapy in the post-chemotherapy cervical cancer tissues compared with the pre-chemotherapy cervical cancer tissues (all P < .05). Additionally, patients with lower histological grade and lower expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 were more responsive to NACT (P < .05, respectively); Moreover, the histological grade [P = .025, HR (95% CI): 0.133 (0.023-0.777)], HIF-1α [P = .019, HR (95% CI): 0.599 (0.390-0.918)], and Ki67 [P = .036, HR (95% CI): 0.946 (0898-0.996)] were independent risk factors affecting the efficacy of NACT in LACC.

CONCLUSION

Expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 were significantly decreased after NACT, and decreasing expression of HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 were related to good response to NACT, suggesting HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and Ki67 may be implicated in evaluating the efficacy of NACT in LACC.

High prevalence and co-infection of high-risk Human Papillomavirus genotypes among unvaccinated young women from Paraguay

Paraguay launched a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in 2013, so virological surveillance is important for measuring the impact of HPV vaccines. This study aimed to estimate the type-specific HPV frequency in unvaccinated sexually active women aged 18-25 years in the metropolitan area of Asuncion as a baseline for monitoring the HPV vaccination program. This study included 208 women, attending the Central Laboratory of Public Health between May 2020 and December 2021, were invited for testing through social networks and flyers at local health centers and higher education institutes. All participants who agreed to contribute to the study signed a free, prior, and informed consent form and answered a questionnaire that included basic demographic data and determining factors of HPV infection. Human papillomavirus detection and genotyping were conducted using the CLART HPV2 test (Genomica, Madrid, Spain) that allows the individual identification of 35 genotypes. 54.8% women were positive for any HPV type, with 42.3% positive for high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types. Several factors were associated with HPV detection including the number of sexual partners, new sexual partners, non-use of condoms, and history of other sexual infections. Moreover, multiple infections were identified in 43.0% of the young women. We detected 29 different viral types present in both single and multiple infections. HPV-58 was the most commonly detected HPV type (14.9%), followed by HPV-16, HPV-51, and HPV-66 (12.3%). We estimated the prevalence of bivalent (16/18), quadrivalent (6/11/16/18), and nonavalent (6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) vaccine types to be 8.2%, 13%, and 38%, respectively. These results reinforce the importance of surveillance studies and provide the first data regarding circulating HPV genotypes in the unvaccinated population in Paraguay, thus generating a baseline to compare future changes in the overall and type-specific HPV prevalence after HPV vaccination.

Learning Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy: Are We Facing an Emerging Situation?

Despite wide screening campaigns and early detection, cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women. Radical hysterectomy, whether by open, laparoscopic or by robotic-assisted techniques, is the mainstay treatment. However, for adequate surgical results and good oncological prognosis, a gynecological surgeon should be trained to perform those procedures. The learning curve of radical hysterectomy, especially by laparoscopy, is influenced by several factors. The LACC trial, the decrease in cervical cancer incidence and radical hysterectomy procedures have widely reduced the learning curve for surgeons. This article mainly discusses the learning curve of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancers, and how several factors are influencing it negatively, with the need to have medical authorities reset specific surgical training programs and allocate them to special oncological centers.

Plasma Thioredoxin Reductase as a Potential Biomarker for Gynecologic Cancer

BACKGROUND

According to previous literatures, plasma thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) level was significantly elevated in various malignant tumors and serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognostic prediction. However, there is little awareness of the clinical value of plasma TrxR in gynecologic malignancies. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma TrxR in gynecologic cancer and explore its role in treatment surveillance.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 134 patients with gynecologic cancer and 79 patients with benign gynecologic disease. The difference of plasma TrxR activity and tumor markers level between two groups was compared using Mann-Whitney U test. By detecting pretreatment and post-treatment level of TrxR and conventional tumor markers, we further assessed the change trend of them with the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.

RESULTS

Compared with benign control [5.7 (5, 6.6) U/mL], statistically significant increase of TrxR activity was observed in gynecologic cancer group [8.4 (7.25, 9.825) U/mL] (P < .0001), regardless of age and stage. On the basis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we found plasma TrxR shows the highest diagnostic efficacy for distinguishing malignancy with benign disease, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.823 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.767-0.878), in the whole cohort. Besides, patients receiving treatment previously [8 (6.5, 9) U/mL] had a decreased TrxR level relative to treatment-native patients [9.9 (8.6, 10.85) U/mL]. Furthermore, follow-up data showed that plasma TrxR level would be evidently decreased after two courses of antitumor therapy (P < .0001), which is consistent with the downward trend of conventional tumor markers.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, all these results demonstrated plasma TrxR is an effective parameter for gynecologic cancer diagnosis and concurrently acts as a promising biomarker for treatment response assessment.

A risk prediction model mediated by genes of APOD/APOC1/SQLE associates with prognosis in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies. Due to the high heterogeneity of cervical cancer accelerating cancer progression, it is necessary to identify new prognostic markers and treatment regimens for cervical cancer to improve patients' survival rates. We purpose to construct and verify a risk prediction model for cervical cancer patients. Based on the analysis of data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), differences of genes in normal and cancer samples were analyzed and then used analysis of WGCNA along with consistent clustering to construct single-factor + multi-factor risk models. After regression analysis, the target genes were obtained as prognostic genes and prognostic risk models were constructed, and the validity of the risk model was confirmed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier curve. Subsequently, the above model was verified on the GSE44001 data validation followed by independent prognostic analysis. Enrichment analysis was conducted by grouping the high and low risks of the model. In addition, differences in immune analysis (immune infiltration, immunotherapy), drug sensitivity, and other levels were counted by the high and low risks groups. In our study, three prognostic genes including APOD, APOC1, and SQLE were obtained, and a risk model was constructed along with validation based on the above-mentioned analysis. According to the model, immune correlation and immunotherapy analyses were carried out, which will provide a theoretical basis and reference value for the exploration and treatment of cervical cancer.

Analysis of the disease burden trend of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system in China from 2006 to 2020

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumors of reproductive system seriously threaten women's life and health. We analyzed the changes in mortality and disease burden of cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer in China from 2006 to 2020 to provide a basis for formulating scientific prevention and control measures.

METHODS

Annual death data for cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer were collected from the Chinese Cause of Death Surveillance. The crude mortality rate (CMR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), annual percentage change (APC), and average APC (AAPC) were applied to analyze the trend of mortality. Loss of life expectancy (LLE) and years of life lost (YLL) were used to assess disease burden.

RESULTS

From 2006 to 2020, there was no significant change in the total ASMR and standardized YLL rates of malignant tumors of the reproductive system, leading to an average LLE of 0.18 years. The YLL rate was the highest in the 55-59 age group. The mortality rate and disease burden of the three types of cancer have changed from uterine cancer higher than cervical cancer and ovarian cancer in 2006 to cervical cancer higher than ovarian cancer and uterine cancer in 2020. The ASMR and standardized YLL rate of uterine cancer showed a downward trend, and AAPC was - 5.21% (- 9.31% ~  - 0.91%) and - 6.07% (- 9.45% ~  - 2.58%), respectively. The mortality rates of cervical cancer and ovarian cancer remain high.

CONCLUSION

The mortality and disease burden of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system in China are still at a high level. It is necessary to improve screening and prevention strategies as soon as possible, improve the techniques of diagnosis and treatment, and take adequate measures to protect women's life and health.

Determinants of cervical cancer screening service utilization among women attending healthcare services in Amhara region referral hospitals: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death and one of the top 20 causes of death among women in Ethiopia. Cervical cancer screening service has a vital value to reduce morbidity and mortality. Even though cervical cancer screening service utilization in Ethiopia is unacceptably low, its determinant factors were not well studied in the study area. Hence, this study was aimed at filling this information gap. This study aimed to identify determinants of cervical cancer screening service utilization among women attending healthcare services in Amhara region referral hospitals, Ethiopia.

METHODS

Hospital-based case-control study was conducted among 441 women (147 cases and 294 controls) from May to July 2021. Cases were included consecutively and controls were selected using a systematic random sampling technique from the randomly selected hospitals. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from respondents. The data were entered into Epi data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. Adjusted odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval and p value < 0.05 were used to estimate the strength and significance of the association.

RESULT

A total of 147 cases and 294 controls were enrolled in this study. Women with 30-39 years-old [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.21, 4.68] and 40-49 years-old [AOR = 4.4 95% CI 1.97, 10.12], urban residence [AOR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.36, 5.21], secondary education [AOR = 4.4; 95% CI 2.18, 8.87] and diploma and above [AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.05, 4.59], ever gave birth [AOR = 9.4; 95% CI 4.92, 18.26], having multiple sexual partners [AOR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.60, 5.03], good knowledge towards cervical cancer screening [AOR = 3.6; 95% CI 2.07, 6.43] and positive attitude on cervical cancer screening [AOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.20, 3.70] were significant determinants of cervical cancer screening service utilization.

CONCLUSION

In this study, age (30-39 and 40-49), urban residence, secondary education, ever gave birth, good knowledge of cervical cancer screening, positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening, and having multiple sexual partners were significant determinants of cervical cancer screening service utilization. There is a need to strengthen the policy and health education on safe sexual practices and healthy lifestyles through information dissemination and communication to scale up screening service utilization.

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Pre-Cancerous Lesions by Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The likelihood of timely treatment for cervical cancer increases with timely detection of abnormal cervical cells. Automated methods of detecting abnormal cervical cells were established because manual identification requires skilled pathologists and is time consuming and prone to error. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for the prediction, screening, and diagnosis of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Comprehensive searches were performed on three databases: Medline, Web of Science Core Collection (Indexes = SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, A & HCI Timespan) and Scopus to find papers published until July 2022. Articles that applied any AI technique for the prediction, screening, and diagnosis of cervical cancer were included in the review. No time restriction was applied. Articles were searched, screened, incorporated, and analyzed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

The primary search yielded 2538 articles. After screening and evaluation of eligibility, 117 studies were incorporated in the review. AI techniques were found to play a significant role in screening systems for pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical lesions. The accuracy of the algorithms in predicting cervical cancer varied from 70% to 100%. AI techniques make a distinction between cancerous and normal Pap smears with 80-100% accuracy. AI is expected to serve as a practical tool for doctors in making accurate clinical diagnoses. The reported sensitivity and specificity of AI in colposcopy for the detection of CIN2+ were 71.9-98.22% and 51.8-96.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present review highlights the acceptable performance of AI systems in the prediction, screening, or detection of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions, especially when faced with a paucity of specialized centers or medical resources. In combination with human evaluation, AI could serve as a helpful tool in the interpretation of cervical smears or images.

Long-term quality of life assessment after excisional treatment for cervical dysplasia

We evaluated factors influencing long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after excisional treatments of low- and high grade squamous intraepithelial cervical lesions (SIL) in three groups of women (n = 160): nulliparas interested in reproduction (A), parous women interested in reproduction (B) and women without pregnancy desire (C). The HRQoL was assessed using the disease-specific FACIT-CD and the generic SF36v2 questionnaires. Anxiety and depression were evaluated by Beck's inventories. After median follow-up of 5 (2-18) years, FACIT-CD total score and the score for Emotional Well-Being (EWB) were significantly lower in group A. The total, EWB and REL (Relationships) scores of FACIT-CD were the highest in group B. Women operated for HSIL demonstrated lower REL quality in comparison to those with LSIL. Neither SF36v2 nor FACIT-CD total scores differed in relation to SIL grade or type of excision. 'SF36v2 Mental Component Summary Score' and 'being parous and interested in fertility' were independent predictors of disease-specific FACIT-CD score.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Long-term consequences of excisional treatments for cervical dysplasia on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are not well reported.What do the results of this study add? Our study provides data on HRQoL in women treated with large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) or cold knife conization (CKC) obtained during the longest (median 5 years) follow-up as reported to date. We were able to show that having children and planning further pregnancies positively influenced HRQoL in these patients. In addition, we identified nulliparas with pregnancy desire as psychologically the most vulnerable group within the studied cohort.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Even several years after LLETZ or CKC, women may suffer from impaired Emotional Well-Being and reduced HRQoL. Awareness and assessment of these long-term consequences should be part of surveillance after excisional treatments for cervical dysplasia.

Advances on Prevention and Screening of Gynecologic Tumors: Are We Stepping Forward?

According to 2020 comprehensive global cancer statistics published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, gynecologic malignancies accounted overall for 16 [...].

New Advances in Cervical Cancer: From Bench to Bedside

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Over the last two decades, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has emerged as the mainstay in the surgical management of early-stage cervical cancer, bringing advantages such as a lower operative morbidity and shorter hospital stay compared to open surgery, while maintaining comparable oncologic outcomes in numerous retrospective studies. Considering oncological patients, it is mandatory to assess the oncological outcomes and safety of this type of surgery. Moreover, there are different future outlooks on cervical cancer therapy, based on immunotherapy, target therapy, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerases (PARP) inhibitors in combination with each other, and in combination with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The goal is to find an approach that is as personalized as possible.

The best postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with early stage cervical adenosquamous carcinoma

Background

Cervical adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) was previously thought to be a subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma, but recent studies have found that the clinical features of the two diseases are different. Moreover, the pathological characteristics, survival, prognosis, and optimal ASC therapy remain unknown. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the postoperative survival of patients with early-stage ASC and to evaluate their condition after treatment with postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and prophylactic irradiation of the para-aortic lymphatic drainage area.

Methods

This study enrolled 131 patients with pathologically confirmed ASC screened from 3502 patients with confirmed stage I–II cervical cancer diagnosis who had completed surgical treatments in our hospital. Among the 131 enrolled patients, 75 patients received CCRT, 33 patients received chemotherapy (CT), and 23 patients did not receive adjuvant treatment (named surgery alone (S alone). Of the 75 patients CCRT, 43 patients received prophylactic irradiation of the para-aortic lymphatic drainage area. The efficacy of the postoperative treatments of patients among groups (CCRT, CT, and S alone) was compared.

Results

The median follow-up time, age, and overall survival (OS) were 76 months, 43 years, and 74 months, respectively. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82% and 71.4%, respectively. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 64 months. Cox regression analysis showed that postoperative adjuvant treatment modalities and positive lymph node metastases were associated with OS and DFS. Patients who received CCRT treatment had higher OS and DFS than those with CT and S alone. Prophylactic irradiation of the para-aortic lymphatic drainage area did not improve the OS and DFS of patients with CCRT treatment. However, further subgroup analysis suggested that it might improve survival rates in patients who had positive pelvic lymph nodes as confirmed by postoperative pathology.

Conclusion

Postoperative CCRT improved the survival rates in patients with early-stage ASC. The value of prophylactic irradiation of the para-aortic lymphatic drainage area remains debatable, but it may benefit patients with pelvic lymph node involvement.

Early Cervical Lesions Affecting Ovarian Reserve and Reproductive Outcomes of Females in Assisted Reproductive Cycles

To estimate the effects of early cervical lesions (ECL) on female reproductive function and IVF/ICSI cycle outcomes, a retrospective cohort study involving 111 infertile women from 2014 to 2019 was performed. Thirty-seven women with a history of ECL and seventy-four controls, undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles, were included in the ECL group and comparison group respectively. Demographic characteristics, ovarian reserve, and IVF/ICSI cycle outcomes of both groups were collected. Basal serum FSH level, AMH level, AFC, number of oocytes retrieved and matured, normal fertilization rate, embryo available rate, blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) were assessed and compared. We observed that while both groups were similar concerning baseline features, significantly more women in the ECL group were diagnosed as poor ovarian response (POR), compared with those in the comparison group (27.0% vs. 10.8%, P=0.003). The pregnancy rate and LBR for a complete cycle were both significantly lower in the ECL group (38.5% vs. 58.8%, P=0.021; 28.9% vs. 48.2%, P=0.025, respectively). The conservative and optimal CLBRs for up to four complete cycles in the ECL group were also lower than those in the comparison group (40.5% vs. 55.4%, P=0.140; 45.9% vs. 67.6%, P=0.028). Longer time intervals (over one year) between ECL diagnosis/treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle start negatively affected the pregnancy rate and LBR. In conclusion, female patients with ECL history seemingly have a lower ovarian reserve, reduced pregnancy rate, and decreased live birth rate (LBR), compared with age-matched women undergoing IVF/ICSI.

Case Report: Giant Pelvic Cystic Appearance—An Unusual Feature of Uterine Cervical Adenocarcinoma

Cervical adenocarcinoma can present as a solid, mixed solid, cystic, or multiple cystic cervical mass in the endocervical canal. In this report, we present an extremely rare case of cervical adenocarcinoma with giant cystic lesions. A 37-year-old Chinese woman with a regular menstrual cycle presented to her local doctor complaining of mild abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasonography suggested an ovarian cyst, whose mean diameter increased from 3 to 8 cm in 3 months. Thereafter, she was referred to our hospital. She had no abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a 95 × 80 mm cyst below the back of the uterus. Computed tomography revealed a 9.8 × 8.5 cm multilocular cyst between the cervix and right ovary. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-E6 and -E7 mRNA tests revealed HPV-16 positivity. The thin-layer, liquid-based cytological test of the cervix showed negative results. No tumor lesions were observed on the cervical biopsy histopathology. The lesion was misdiagnosed as an ovarian cyst prior to the surgery. Intraoperatively, a cyst of the size of a child's head was observed extending from the low posterior wall of the uterus to the posterior lip of the cervix, and the cervical cysts were resected. Histological examination revealed cervical adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, she underwent extensive hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The final diagnosis was stage IB3 cervical adenocarcinoma. After 21 months of follow-up, no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence has been found.

Construction and comprehensive analysis of the competing endogenous RNA network in endometrial adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignant tumors. In this study, we constructed gene co-expression networks to identify key modules and hub genes involved in the pathogenesis of EC.

RESULTS

The MEturquoise module was found to be significantly related to hypertension and the MEbrown module was significantly related to the history of other malignancies. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the MEturquoise module was associated with the GO biological process terms of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, positive regulation of male gonad development, endocardial cushion development, and endothelial cell differentiation. The MEbrown module was associated with GO terms DNA binding, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter. A total of 10 hub genes were identified and compared with the available datasets at transcriptional and translational levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified ceRNAs may play a critical role in the progression and metastasis of EC and are thus candidate therapeutic targets and potential prognostic biomarkers. The two modules constructed further provide a useful reference that will advance understanding of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in EC.

Nanotechnology-based approaches for effective detection of tumor markers: A comprehensive state-of-the-art review

As well-appreciated biomarkers, tumor markers have been spotlighted as reliable tools for predicting the behavior of different tumors and helping clinicians ascertain the type of molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis. The sensitivity and specificity of these markers have made them an object of even broader interest for sensitive detection and staging of various cancers. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence-based, mass-based, and electrochemical-based detections are current techniques for sensing tumor markers. Although some of these techniques provide good selectivity, certain obstacles, including a low sample concentration or difficulty carrying out the measurement, limit their application. With the advent of nanotechnology, many studies have been carried out to synthesize and employ nanomaterials (NMs) in sensing techniques to determine these tumor markers at low concentrations. The fabrication, sensitivity, design, and multiplexing of sensing techniques have been uplifted due to the attractive features of NMs. Various NMs, such as magnetic and metal nanoparticles, up-conversion NPs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon-based NMs, quantum dots (QDs), and graphene-based nanosensors, hyperbranched polymers, optical nanosensors, piezoelectric biosensors, paper-based biosensors, microfluidic-based lab-on-chip sensors, and hybrid NMs have proven effective in detecting tumor markers with great sensitivity and selectivity. This review summarizes various categories of NMs for detecting these valuable markers, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3, MUC1), and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and highlights recent nanotechnology-based advancements in detection of these prognostic biomarkers.

Circ_0003221 Downregulation Restrains Cervical Cancer Cell Growth, Metastasis and Angiogenesis by Governing the miR-139-3p/S100A14 Pathway

Circular RNA (circRNA) has considerable potency in carcinogenesis, which has aroused much attention. The objective of our study was to disclose the role of circ_0003221 in cervical cancer. Circ_0003221, miR-139-3p, and S100 calcium-binding protein A14 (S100A14) mRNA were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The proliferation of cancer cells was checked by CCK-8 assay and EdU assay. The migration and invasion of cancer cells were checked by transwell assay. Angiogenesis was determined by tube formation assay. The protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, angiogenesis-related markers, and S100A14 protein were measured by western blot. The interplays between miR-139-3p and circ_0003221 or S100A14 were ensured by RIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Further animal study was conducted to verify the role of circ_0003221 in vivo. Circ_0003221 was highly expressed in cancer tissues and cells, and its downregulation suppressed cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis and also delayed tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0003221 bound to miR-139-3p and sequestered miR-139-3p expression. The inhibitory cancer cell biological behaviors by circ_0003221 downregulation were recovered by miR-139-3p suppression. S100A14 was a target gene of miR-139-3p. MiR-139-3p upregulation repressed cancer cell malignant phenotypes by depleting S100A14. Importantly, circ_0003221 positively regulated S100A14 expression by targeting miR-139-3p. Circ_0003221 downregulation restrains cervical cancer cell growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis by governing the miR-139-3p/S100A14 pathway.

Significance of the Number of Intermediate-Risk Factors in Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Study of 976 Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the impact of intermediate-risk factors (IRFs) on the prognosis of stage I-II cervical cancer (CC) patients, and evaluate the necessity of adjuvant treatment based on investigation.

METHODS

Medical records of 976 negative high-risk factors' CC patients were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathologic characteristics and adjuctive therapy were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests to identify significant factors. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify the independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

For patients with none, single and multiple IRFs, the 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were 97.8%, 86.3%, and 68.0% respectively (p < 0.001), and 3-year overall survival rates were 99.3%, 93.6% and 79.0% respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed histological type, differentiation grade, the number of IRFs and adjuvant therapy were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of IRFs was demonstrated with higher predictive efficacy on survival of CC than individual IRF. Patients with multiple IRFs had significantly worse survival outcomes than patients with none or one. Different adjuvant treatment plans should be formulated based on the number of present IRFs. The prognostic management of patients with multiple IRFs should be pay more attention.

Circ_0019435 Exerts Its Functions in the Cellular Process of Cervical Cancer via Epigenetically Silencing DKK1 and PTEN

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most serious gynecological malignancy among women worldwide. As a subtype of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of gene expression and cancer progression. It was discovered from the cancer-specific circRNA database (CSCD) that circ_0019435 was mainly distributed in the nucleus of HeLa-S3 cells. However, few researches have mentioned circ_0019435 with its function in cancers. The present study uncovered that circ_0019435 was upregulated in CC cells by qRT-PCR. Moreover, circ_0019435 was more stable than its linear isoform-ABCC2. Besides, no regulation of circ_0019435 on ABCC2 and the chemoresistance of CC cells were found. Then, it was unveiled by a series of functional assays including colony formation, trypan blue staining, and transwell invasion assays in that circ_0019435 ablation induced the suppression of proliferation, invasion, and EMT of HeLa and SiHa cells. The subcellular distribution of circ_0019435 was assessed by subcellular fractionation and FISH assay. Furthermore, it was disclosed that circ_0019435 binds to EZH2 to silence DKK1 and PTEN. Finally, rescue assays corroborated that DKK1 and PTEN were involved in circ_0019435-mediated CC cell progression. In conclusion, circ_0019435 regulates DKK1 and PTEN expression at the epigenetic level, thereby influencing the progression of CC cells.

Necessity for subsequent surgery in women of child-bearing age with positive margins after conization

BACKGROUND

20-25% of women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (HSIL) have residual lesions after conization. The state of the margin is generally considered to be a risk factor for recurrence or persistent lesions. Predictors of positive margins and residual lesions need to be identified. A design for postoperative management and avoidance of overtreatment needs to be provided, especially for women of child-bearing age.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective analysis of 1309 women of child-bearing age with HSIL, who underwent cold knife conization (CKC). Age, gravidity, parity, human papillomavirus (HPV) species, cytology, transformation zone type, results of endocervical curettage (ECC), quadrant involvement, glandular involvement, and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) grade were analyzed. Among those with positive margins, 245 patients underwent secondary surgery within three months, including CKC, a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, and total hysterectomy. Risk factors for positive margins and residual lesions were assessed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age, gravidity, parity, glandular involvement, and CIN grade between the two groups (P > 0.3). There was a significant difference in HPV species, cytology, ECC results, and quadrant involvement (P < 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed a major cytology abnormality, high-risk HPV infection, type III transformation zone, positive ECC result, and multiple quadrant involvement were independent risk factors for positive margins and residual lesions (P < 0.02). Age > 35 years was also a risk factor for residual lesions (P < 0.03).

CONCLUSION

High-risk women should be treated appropriately considering fertility. Patients with positive margins should be managed uniquely. Surgery for women without fertility may be appropriate. Close follow-up is necessary for women who have fertility requirements or are unwilling to undergo subsequent surgery if they have no risk factors, especially women < 35 years.

Increased HSF1 Promotes Infiltration and Metastasis in Cervical Cancer via Enhancing MTDH-VEGF-C Expression

Purpose

To explore the molecular mechanism of promoting cervical cancer by HSF1 in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

The expression of HSF1 in 110 paraffin-embedded cervical cancer sections of different grades was examined via immunohistochemistry analyses. Expression of HSF1 downstream targets Metadherin (MTDH), VEGF-C and CD31 were studied using immunohistochemistry analyses. HSF1 transcriptional activity in the MTDH promoter region was detected by EMSA, CHIP and luciferase. Cell proliferation and clonality were detected by MTT and clonal formation assay. Cell migration and invasion ability were investigated by scratch analysis and transwell assay. HSF1-mediated tumorigenesis in vivo was examined in xenograft models.

Results

HSF1 expression of cervical cancer cell line was increased compared to normal human cervical tissues. HSF1 enhanced the expression of MTDH, VEGF-C and CD31. HSF1 can combine with MTDH promoter to promote the expression of MTDH. HSF1 enhanced HeLa cell proliferation and clone formation. Furthermore, HSF1 increased HeLa cells migration and invasion in vitro. In the transplanted tumor model, HSF1 inhibited tumor growth in vivo after interference, and reduced the expression of MTDH, VEGF-C and CD31.

Discussion

HSF1 can promote the proliferation, metastasis and invasion of cervical cancer.

LncRNA LINC01305 promotes cervical cancer progression through KHSRP and exosome-mediated transfer

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the deadliest female malignancies worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential regulators for cancer progression. This study aimed to elucidate the role of lncRNA LINC01305 in the progression of CC. We found where LINC01305 was expressed in CC tissues and its correlation with the survival rate of CC patients. Functional experiments were performed to elucidate the effect of LINC01305 on CC. The results showed that LINC01305 was increased in CC tumor tissues and was correlated with a lower survival rate. The overexpression and knockdown of LINC01305 enhanced and inhibited the progression of CC, respectively. Additionally, the upregulation of LINC01305 promoted tumor growth in xenograft mice. Moreover, the effect of LINC01305 on CC was mediated through interacting with the RNA-binding protein, KHSRP. Furthermore, LINC01305 was mainly distributed in exosomes and was transferred to recipient cells to enhance CC progression. Lastly, LINC01305 may participate in the regulation of the stemness of CC. Taken together, the results suggest that LINC01305 promotes the progression of CC through KHSRP and that LINC01305 is released through exosomes and is involved in the stemness of CC. This study sheds light on the molecular mechanism underlying the progression of CC.

MicroRNA-143 Sensitizes Cervical Cancer Cells to Cisplatin: a Promising Anticancer Combination Therapy

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is commonly used for cervical cancer treatment. However, the development of chemoresistance is considered the main obstacle to the effectiveness of this therapeutic agent. MicroRNAs are illustrated to play a major role in the regulation of cancer cell chemosensitivity. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic role of miRNA-143 in combination with cisplatin on cervical cancer cells. Then, CaSki cell line with low expression levels of miRNA-143 was selected for functional experiments. The cells were treated with miRNA-143 and cisplatin individually or in combination. The cell viability and apoptosis induction were evaluated by MTT, Annexin V-FITC/PI, and DAPI staining tests. Cell migration was further evaluated by wound healing assay. The effect of miRNA-143 and cisplatin combination on gene expression was quantified by real-time PCR. Furthermore, the combination therapy effect on cell cycle progression and autophagy induction was also evaluated by flow cytometry. Our results showed that miRNA-143 overexpression could increase cisplatin-induced apoptosis and increase the sensitivity of CaSki cells to low doses of this chemotherapeutic agent via modulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes including Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-9. Besides, miRNA-143 and cisplatin were demonstrated to cooperatively increase the cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 and G2-M phases, induce autophagy activation, and via downregulation of vimentin inhibit CaSki cell migration. Moreover, c-Myc as an important regulator of cell growth was downregulated in treatment groups compared to the control. In conclusion, regarding that miRNA-143 could sensitize cervical cancer cells to cisplatin, it may be considered a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this malignancy.

Gynecological cancers and urinary dysfunction: a comparison between endometrial cancer and other gynecological malignancies

The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative overview of the available literature about voiding dysfunction in women with gynecological cancer before and after surgical, chemo- and radiotherapy treatments. Radical surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy may cause lower urinary tract dysfunction such as stress and urge urinary incontinence, and voiding difficulties. However, nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy may be a valid surgical approach in order to reduce bladder innervation impairment and maintain normal urinary function. Also, newer radiotherapy techniques significantly reduce the number of adverse effects, including bladder dysfunction. Pelvic floor muscle physiotherapy and training with biofeedback and urethral bulking agents represent some additional therapies that can be used in oncologically treated patients with urinary symptoms in order to improve a significant aspect of their quality of life. Considering the important impact on the patients' quality of life, a full urogynecological evaluation should be considered as an important part of oncological treatment and follow-up.

CRNDE Contributes Cervical Cancer Progression by Regulating miR-4262/ZEB1 Axis

Background

Cervical cancer is a lethal gynecologic cancer in women. Long non-coding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (LncRNA CRNDE) was recognized as a significant oncogene in multiple cancers. However, the functional role of CRNDE in cervical cancer remains poorly explored.

Methods

The expression of CRNDE, microRNA-4262 (miR-4262) and zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in cervical cancer tumors and cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Colony formation and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) were performed to detect cell viability. Flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay were conducted to evaluate cell apoptosis. The interaction between miR-4262 and CRNDE or ZEB1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter system. Transwell assay was employed to evaluate cell migration and invasion. The relative protein expression was assessed by Western blot.

Results

CRNDE and ZEB1 were up-regulated, while miR-4262 was down-regulated in cervical cancer tissues and cells. We found that CRNDE sponged miR-4262 and ZEB1 was a target of miR-4262. In addition, miR-4262 inhibitor abolished CRNDE silencing-induced repression on cell proliferation, EMT, migration, invasion and promotion on cell apoptosis. Furthermore, ZEB1 rescued the effects of miR-4262 overexpression or CRNDE deletion on cervical cancer progression. Our data showed that CRNDE targeted miR-4262 to regulate ZEB1 expression in cervical cancer cells. Besides, CRNDE expedited cervical cancer progression through wnt/β-catenin pathway via sponging miR-4262 and altering ZEB1 expression.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that CRNDE facilitated the progression of cervical cancer through activation of wnt/β-catenin pathway by regulating miR-4262/ZEB1 axis, representing a prospective targeted therapy for cervical cancer.

Roles and Mechanisms of the Long Noncoding RNAs in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be one of the leading causes of death for women across the world. Although it has been determined that papillomavirus infection is one of the main causes of the etiology of the disease, genetic and epigenetic factors are also required for its progression. Among the epigenetic factors are included the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides (nt) that generally do not code for proteins and have been associated with diverse functions such as the regulation of transcription, translation, RNA metabolism, as well as stem cell maintenance and differentiation, cell autophagy and apoptosis. Recently, studies have begun to characterize the aberrant regulation of lncRNAs in CC cells and tissues, including Homeobox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), H19, Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), Cervical Carcinoma High-Expressed 1 (CCHE1), Antisense noncoding RNA in the inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (ANRIL), Growth arrest special 5 (GAS5) and Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1). They have been associated with several disease-related processes such as cell growth, cell proliferation, cell survival, metastasis and invasion as well as therapeutic resistance, and are novel potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in CC. In this review, we summarize the current literature regarding the knowledge we have about the roles and mechanisms of the lncRNAs in cervical neoplasia.

Efficacy and Safety of Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Combined with Paclitaxel Liposomes and Cisplatin for Locally Advanced Stage IIB-IIIB Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study at a Single Center

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) combined with administration of paclitaxel liposomes and cisplatin for locally advanced stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer at a single center in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS The clinical data of 126 patients with stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the IMRT group (n=63) and the VMAT group (n=63). The short-term clinical efficacy, the incidence of adverse reactions, the quality-of-life score, and the changes in levels of T-lymphocyte subsets, serum inflammatory factors, and tumor markers were compared pre- and posttreatment between the 2 groups. RESULTS The clinical response rate was 90.5% and 96.8% in the IMRT group and the VMAT group, respectively; the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment, the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ subsets rose significantly, while the CD8⁺ level declined significantly in both groups compared with the pretreatment levels. After treatment, the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-a, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 125 declined in both groups compared with pretreatment levels. After treatment, the Karnofsky performance scale score rose in both groups, and it was higher in the VMAT group than in the IMRT group. CONCLUSIONS IMRT and VMAT combined with paclitaxel liposomes and cisplatin have similar short-term clinical efficacy and long-term survival rates in the treatment of stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer.

Accuracy of the Triple Test Versus Colposcopy for the Diagnosis of Premalignant and Malignant Cervical Lesions

Background:

Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations concerning the use of alternative tests for the detection of cervical cancer precursor lesions in low-income countries, the accuracy of these tests is a debated issue. In the present study we compare the diagnostic accuracy of the triple test with that of colposcopy for the diagnosis of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed in 328 women referred to the gynecology clinic at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, affiliated to Yazd University of Medical Sciences (SSUMS), Yazd, Iran, from March 2016 to June 2018. As the first step, a Pap smear was obtained from all participants. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and Lugol’s iodine (VILI) was performed in accordance with the known protocol. A colposcopy was then conducted in all participants, biopsy samples were obtained, and histological features studied. Finally, the results were compared by statistical analysis.

Results:

The age range of the participants was 30 - 50 years. Of 328 women, 60 (18.3 %) were postmenopausal. Two-hundred and five patients (62.5 %) had an abnormal Pap smear, 165 (50.3 %) had abnormal results on colposcopy, and 141 (43 %) had abnormal histopathology reports. The VIA was positive in 129 patients (39.3 %) and the VILI in 177 (54 %). The results of the triple test were reported to be positive in 205 cases (51.52 %). The sensitivity of the triple test in the detection of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions was 78.7 % and 69 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of colposcopy in the detection of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions was 80.1 % and 72.2 %, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the triple test and colposcopy in the detection of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions was 73 % versus 75 %.

Conclusion:

Since the results of the study showed that the diagnostic accuracy of the triple test is equivalent that of colposcopy, the former may be used in low-income countries and areas lacking access to colposcopy.

Combined Detection of ACTN4 and SCC-Ag is a Promising Serological Biomarker for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3 or Worse: A Case-Control Study

Purpose

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common malignancy in women. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and cancer antigen (CA)-125 are widely used to help diagnose CC, but novel tumour markers with superior sensitivity and specificity are needed. α-Actinin 4(ACTN4) is overexpressed in CC, though its diagnostic value for CC is unclear. This study examined the diagnostic value of ACTN4 and SCC-Ag as biomarkers for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 or worse.

Methods

Women screened for CC at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were recruited from 2017.1 to 2018.5. Cervical tissues and blood were collected at the same time. Patients pathologically diagnosed as CIN3+ or NILM/CIN1/CIN2 were classified into the case and control groups, respectively. ACTN4 mRNA and protein levels were detected through quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively, and ACTN4 and SCC-Ag concentrations were analysed by ELISA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood rate (PLR), negative likelihood rate (NLR), and Youden index (YI) of ACTN4 and SCC-Ag were evaluated. The optimum cut-off points for ACTN4 and SCC-Ag were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and accuracy was evaluated by the area under the ROC curve.

Results

In total, 105 patients were classified as CIN3+ cases and 106 as controls. The median ACTN4 levels in case and control tissues were 10.6 and 4.15, respectively. The ACTN4 and SCC-Ag concentrations were significantly higher in cases than controls (P_ACTN4=0.0007; P_SCC-Ag=0.0067). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, PLR, NLR and YI of ACTN4 were 68.6%, 76.3%, 76.3%, 72.5%, 2.89, 0.41 and 44.9, respectively; SCC-Ag had a similar diagnostic value (P>0.05), and ACTN4 combined with SCC-Ag had a superior diagnostic value (75.6%, 87.5%, 88.6%, 73.7%, 6.05, 0.28, and 63.1, respectively).

Conclusion

Combined ACTN4 and SCC-Ag detection is a promising serological biomarker for patients with CIN3 or worse.