IMP3 expression is associated with poor survival in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Insulin-like growth factor II messenger RNA (mRNA)-binding protein 3 (IMP3) is an oncofetal protein that promotes tumor progression and metastasis in a number of malignancies. However, the clinical significance of IMP3 expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix is unclear. In this study, the correlation between IMP3 expression and cervical cancer progression and prognosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry. IMP3 expression was observed in a large number of tissue specimens from patients with normal cervical tissues, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, CIN II, CIN III, and SCC. IMP3 protein and mRNA expression was also determined in the SiHa and HeLa human cervical cancer cell lines. IMP3 expression was observed in 0 (0%) of 62 CIN I, 0 (0%) of 38 CIN II, and 9 (8.7%) of 104 CIN III specimens. Of the 96 SCC cases, IMP3 expression was detected in 54 cases (56.3%). Significant difference in IMP3 expression existed between all of the groups tested (P < .001). IMP3 protein and mRNA expressions in SiHa and HeLa cell lines were dramatically increased, as compared with normal tissue (P < .001). IMP3 expression was significantly related to age (P < .001), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (P < .001), and lymph node metastasis (P = .001). IMP3 expression was also shown to be an independent prognostic factor in SCC. In conclusion, these findings suggest that IMP3 expression may be a prognostic indicator of SCC.