The E-cadherin Protein Expression And CDH1 Promoter Methylation And The Correlation Of Them In Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer

Objective The purpose of this study was to elucidate Ecadherin protein and human papillomavirus(HPV) 16E6 expression and CDH1 gene promoter methylation levels in invasive squamous cervical cell carcinoma, and to investigate the possible correlation between two kinds of protein and interaction with gene methylation.Methods Immunohistochemistry(IHC) and western-blot expression of E-cadherin and HPV16E6 was analysed in invasive squamous cervical cell carcinoma.The methylation status by methyl-specific polymerase chain reaction(MSP) was determined.Results IHC results : The positive expression rates of E-cadherin protein in cervical squamous cell carcinoma were less than normal cervical tissue, and the differences were statistically significant(x2=18.281, p <0.05). The abnormal expression of E-cadherin protein expression was significantly related to clinical pathological stage, histological grade, invasion depth of squamous cervical cancer(p <0.05), but not correlated with age( p > 0.05).Western-blot results: The E-cadherin protein expression in cervical squamous cell carcinoma were more than normal cervical tissue, differences werestatistically significant(p <0.05). The HPV16E6 protein expression in cervical squamous cell carcinoma were more than normal cervical tissue, differences were statistically significant(p <0.05). In normal cervical tissue the negative status of CDH1 promoter methylation was noted.CDH1 promoter methylation was observed in 26 of 40 tumor samples(65%). The abnormal expression of CDH1 promoter methylation was significantly related to clinical pathological stage, histological grade of squamous cervical cancer(p <0.05), but not correlated with age( p > 0.05). Downregulation of E-cadherin was found to be related to promoter methylation(p <0.05). CDH1 methylation was found to be related to HPV16E6 expression(x2=7.033,p < 0.05).Conclusion Downregulation of E-cadherin was found in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The work suggest relationship between E-cadherin and HPV16E6,and both of them participate in the development of cervical carcinoma. The abnormal expression of two proteins associated with the poor prognosis of cervical carcinoma.There maybe an association of E-cadherin expression with CDH1 promoter methylation.