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Published on: August 1, 2018
Significance of nuclear hTra2-beta1 expression in cervical cancer
Boris Gabriel1, Axel Zur Hausen, Jiri Bouda
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
Objective:
Human Tra2-beta1, a member of the serine/arginine-rich splicing factors, is involved in C/A-dependent mRNA processing and regulation of gene expression. Since several genes involved in cervical carcinogenesis are alternatively spliced and contain C/A rich elements, we aimed to analyze hTra2-beta1 expression and subcellular localization in tumor tissue of women with cervical cancer and to determine its clinical significance.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Tertiary-care academic medical center.
Sample:
One hundred and five patients with cervical cancer and a mean follow up time of 73.1 months.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded tissues was performed and hTra2-beta1 expression was correlated with clinico-pathological variables including patient outcome.
Results:
Cytoplasmic hTra2-beta1 protein expression was found in 20% of cases, while all tumors revealed nuclear immunoreactivity with strong expression in 54.3% of cases. There was a significant inverse correlation between nuclear and cytoplasmic protein expression, suggesting a potentially relevant shuttle process of hTra2-beta1 between both cellular compartments. Patients with weak expressing hTra2-beta1 tumors showed an improved survival with a tumor-related death rate of 8.3% compared to 23.7% in patients with moderate and high intranuclear hTra2-beta1 expression, respectively.
Conclusions:
Our data support the hypothesis of a biological relevance for hTra2-beta1 expression in cervical cancer. The observed shuttle process of this splicing factor with higher concentrations in the nucleus should have pronounced effects on the cellular function and tumor biology of the affected tumors, leading to the worse patient outcome.
Insights
High nuclear expression of human Tra2-beta1 (hTra2-beta1) splicing factor correlates with worse survival in cervical cancer patients. Reduced nuclear hTra2-beta1 suggests improved patient outcomes, indicating its clinical significance.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Genetics
Background:
- Human Tra2-beta1 (hTra2-beta1) is a splicing factor involved in gene expression regulation.
- Alternative splicing of genes is implicated in cervical cancer development.
- hTra2-beta1 may play a role in cervical carcinogenesis due to its involvement with C/A-rich elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze hTra2-beta1 expression and subcellular localization in cervical cancer tissues.
- To determine the clinical significance of hTra2-beta1 in cervical cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study involving 105 cervical cancer patients.
- Immunohistochemistry used to assess hTra2-beta1 protein expression in tumor tissues.
- Correlation of hTra2-beta1 expression with clinico-pathological variables and patient survival.
Main Results:
- Nuclear hTra2-beta1 expression was detected in all tumors, with strong expression in 54.3%.
- Cytoplasmic hTra2-beta1 expression was observed in 20% of cases.
- Weak nuclear hTra2-beta1 expression was associated with improved patient survival (8.3% tumor-related death) compared to moderate/high expression (23.7%).
Conclusions:
- hTra2-beta1 expression has biological relevance in cervical cancer.
- The nuclear localization and expression levels of hTra2-beta1 impact tumor biology and patient outcomes.
- Further investigation into the shuttle process of hTra2-beta1 between cellular compartments is warranted.
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