Expression and prognostic significance of KiSS1 and p53 expression in cervical carcinoma

Abstract

Background Cervical carcinoma is the fourth most diagnosed malignant tumor. It causes high morbidity and mortality in patients suggesting the need for appropriate prognostic markers. KiSS1 has a dual role in the pathogenesis of cancer. KiSS1 was initially recognized as a tumor metastasis suppressor gene, meanwhile, it is reported that KiSS1 promotes progression and poor prognosis via acquiring more aggressive phenotype. The importance of deregulated p53 in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma was proposed, but controversy was observed. We examined the role of the KiSS1 and p53 immunoexpression as prognostic markers in cervical carcinoma. Patients and methods KiSS1 and P53 expressions were examined in 80 patients with cervical carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The relation between immunostaining and clinicopathological variables was evaluated. Disease free survival (DFS) was examined by using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Positive KiSS1 and p53 expression was detected in 61.66 and 55%, respectively, of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. Positivity of KiSS1 and p53 was observed in 60 and 65%, respectively, of adenocarcinoma patients. In SCC cases, significant association was detected between the immunoexpression of KiSS1 and p53 with tumor grade ( P =0.009 and P =0.001, respectively), FIGO stage ( P =0.016 and P =0.041, respectively), and lymph node metastasis ( P =0.005 and 0.009, respectively). In adenocarcinoma cases, a significant association was observed between KiSS1 and p53 immunoexpression with FIGO stage ( P =0.044 and P =0.042, respectively), and lymph node metastasis ( P =0.028, 0.043). Also, a significant positive correlation was detected between both markers in SCC and adenocarcinoma ( r =0. 600, P <0.000 and r =0.6581, P <0.001, respectively). Positive expression of KiSS1 was associated with poor DFS in SCC and adenocarcinoma cases ( P =0.005 and 0.002, respectively). Shorter DFS was associated with p53 expression in adenocarcinoma cases only ( P =0.025). Conclusion These findings suggest that KiSS1 and p53 expressions are poor prognostic factors in cervical carcinoma patients.