Expression Of NF-κB And IκBα In Squamous Cervical Carcinoma And Its Clinical Significance

Objective: To study the expression and relationship ofNF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 and IκBαduring the development of cervicalcancer involving chronic cervicitis, cervical precancer and cancer.Methods: NF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 and IκBαexpressions were detected byimmunohistochemistry (SP method) in 15 chronic cervicitis, 42 cervicalprecancers and 79 squamous cervical cancers respectively. Results: Thenuclear expression rate of NF-κ3/p50,NF-κB/p65 in squamous cervicalcarcinoma(SCCa) were significantly higher than in chronic cervicitis(CCs)and cervical precancerous tissues(SIL),respectively(P＜0.01),whilecytoplasmic IκBαexpression rate was significantly lower in squamouscervical carcinoma(P＜0.01). The nuclear expression rate of NF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 were significantly higher in lower-graded SCCa thanhigher-graded SCCa(P＜0.01). Overexpression of NF-κB/p65 in squamouscervical carcinoma was related to lymph node metastasis and depth ofinvasion(P＜0.05). Conclusion: (1) Positive nuclear expression ofNF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 protein was found in squamous cervical cancers.(2) In squamous cervical cancers, NF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 showedsignificantly higher nuclear expressions with a corresponding lower cytoplasmic expression rate of IκBαthan cervical precancerous tissues andchronic cervicitis, indicating activation of NF-κB may be related tocervical carcinogenesis. (3) The nuclear expression rate of NF-κB/p50,NF-κB/p65 were significantly higher in lower-graded SCCa thanhigher-graded SCCa, indicating degree of NF-κB activation may berelated to differentiation of cancers. (4) Overexpression of NF-κB/p65 insquamous cervical carcinoma was related to lymph node metastasis anddepth of invasion, which indicates NF-κB/p65 may be related to cancerousmetastasis and invasion. (5) Higher nuclear expression rate of NF-κB/p50indicates it was the main DNA binding component and may be of moreimportance in the regulation of gene transcription.