Can ABCF2 protein expression predict the prognosis of uterine cancer?

Uterine cervical and endometrial cancers are common malignant solid neoplasms for which there are no useful prognostic markers. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between ATP-binding cassette superfamily F2 (ABCF2) expression and clinical factors including clinical stage, histologic type, grade and prognosis in uterine cervical and endometrial cancer. Two hundred and sixty seven cervical and 103 endometrial cancers were studied. ATP-binding cassette superfamily F2 cytoplasmic expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining and scored as positive or negative. Among cervical cancer cases, 149 (55.8%) expressed ABCF2. The overall survival was longer in ABCF2-negative than ABCF2-positive cases (P=0.0069). Statistically significant prognostic factors for survival were ABCF2 positivity (risk ratio (rr)=1.437), old age (rr=1.550) and advanced stage (rr=2.577). ATP-binding cassette superfamily F2 positivity was an independent prognostic factor by multivariate proportional hazard test (P=0.0002). Among endometrial cancer cases, 72 (69.9%) were cytoplasmic ABCF2 positive. However, there was no significant relationship between ABCF2 expression and age, clinical stage, histologic type, histologic grade, oestrogen receptor status or prognosis. ATP-binding cassette superfamily F2 expression may be a useful prognostic marker in cervical but not endometrial cancer. The role of ABCF2 protein may differ depending on the type of cancer.