Expression Of Ezrin, E-cadherin And CD44v6 Protein In Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasm And Its Clinical Significance

ObjectiveThe expression and clinical significance of Ezrin, E-cadherin (E-Cad) and CD44v6 proteins in cervical intraepithelial neoplasm were investigated.MethodExpression of Ezrin, E-Cad, CD44v6, Ki-67 and p16ink4a proteins in 30 cases of normal cervical epithelium (NCE), 90 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN) and 30 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of cervix (SCC) was detected by immunohistochemistry SP method.ResultsThe rate of expression of Ezrin and CD44v6 increased, whereas E-Cad decreased remarkably from NCE to low grade CIN, and then to high grade CIN and SCC groups accordingly(for Ezrin and CD44v6: P<0.05; for E-Cad: P<0.01).In the cases with Ezrin and CD44v6 positive, and E-Cad negative expression in CIN group, the rate of moderate and high expression of Ki-67 was significantly higher than that in those without the conditions mentioned above, respectively(P<0.05). The expression of Ezrin and CD44v6 in CIN group was positively related with Ki-67(for Ezrin: r=0.543, P=0.000; for CD44v6: r=0.693, P=0.000), but E-Cad negatively(r=-0.290, P=0.006).The rate of expression of p16ink4a protein increased remarkably and the abnormal substantial change that the staining reaction mainly confined to the cellular nucleus to both the cellular nucleus and membrane from NCE to low grade CIN, and then to high grade CIN and SCC groups accordingly(P<0.05). In the cases with Ezrin and CD44v6 positive expression in CIN group, the rate of expression of p16ink4a was significantly higher than that in those without the conditions mentioned above, respectively(P<0.05). The expression of Ezrin and CD44v6 in CIN group was positively related with p16ink4a (for Ezrin: r=0.493, P=0.000; for CD44v6: r=0.648, P=0.000). In the cases with E-Cad negative expression in CIN group, the rate of moderate and high expression of p16ink4a was significantly higher than that in those without the conditions mentioned above(P<0.01). The expression of E-Cad in CIN group was negatively related with p16ink4a (r=-0.329, P=0.002).The expression of Ezrin and CD44v6 in CIN group was negatively related with E-Cad, respectively (for Ezrin: r=-0.372, P=0.000; for CD44v6: r=-0.373, P=0.000). The expression of Ezrin in CIN group was positively related with CD44v6 (r=0.560, P=0.000). In the cases with both Ezrin and CD44v6 positive and E-Cad negative expression in CIN group, the rate of Ki-67 and p16ink4a was significantly higher than that in those without the conditions mentioned above, respectively (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe over-expression of Ezrin and CD44v6 and down-regulation expression of E-Cad may result in rapid proliferation of atypical cells in CIN. The abnormal expression of Ezrin, CD44v6 and E-Cad, and substantial over-expression of p16ink4a proteins in CIN may together take part in tumorgenesis and promote the development of cervical precancerosis.