Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2006; 66 - PO_O_03_03
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-952648

BNIP-3 immunoscoring is associated with the mode of invasion and juxtatumoral desmoplastic stromal alterations in carcinoma of the cervix uteri

LC Horn 1, B Hentschel 2, M Höckel 3, J Einenkel 3, UD Braumann 4, C Leo 3
  • 1Universität Leipzig, Institut für Pathologie, Arbeitsgruppe Gynäko- & Perinatalpathologie, Leipzig
  • 2Universität Leipzig, Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Statistik und Epidemiologie, Leipzig
  • 3Universitätsfrauenklinik Leipzig, Leipzig
  • 4Universität Leipzig, Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Bioinformatik, Leipzig

Aims: Finger-like and spray-like pattern of invasion represent the most common types of tumoral growth patterns in carcinoma of the cervix uteri (CX) invading host tissue (Horn et al. 2006). Infiltrative growth usually induce new matrix formation by activating the peritumoral stromal cells; that is, desmoplastic stromal reaction (DSR) at the front of invasion (juxtatumoral stroma). Infiltrative growth and peritumoral stromal remodelling might be involved by apoptosis of tumor cells. BNIP3 is a mitochondrial protein and a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family and expressed in different types of human cancer. Nothing is known regarding the association of BNIP-3 expression in CX and parameters of infiltrative growth.

Methods: Biopsies of 50 cervical cancers (FIGO stage IB to IV) were stained with an anti-BNIP3 antibody. In accordance to own previous studies (Leo et al. 2006), cytoplasmic as well as nuclear staining results were counted as positive. Staining was counted performing an immunoreactive score (IRS=staining intensity (0–3) x calculated percentage of positive stained tumor cells (1–4). The IRS was correlated to pattern of invasion (finger-like and spray-like) and the grade of DSR. DSR was scored as none/weak and moderate/strong.

Results: Spray-like pattern of invasion was associated with high expression of BNIP-3 (mean-IRS 5.8 vs. 3.2; p=0.17). High juxtatumoral stromal remodelling, characterised by strong desmoplastic change was also associated with BNIP-3 overxpression (mean IRS 3.6 vs. 5.7; p=0.082).

Conclusions: The results suggest that alterations of the mitochondrial pro-apoptotic BNIP-3 is involved in the mode of pattern of invasion (representing the grade of tumor cell dissociation) and juxtatumoral stromal remodelling in carcinoma of the cervix uteri.