Peritumoral stromal remodeling, pattern of invasion and expression of c-met/HGF in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri, FIGO stages III and IV

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 2012-07, Vol.163 (1), p.76-80
• Main Authors: Horn, L.-C, Hommel, N, Roschlau, U, Bilek, K, Hentschel, B, Einenkel, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; c-Met; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cervical cancer; Female; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - biosynthesis; HGF; Humans; Invasive front; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pattern of invasion; Prognosis; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - biosynthesis; Retrospective Studies; Scatter factor; Stromal Cells - pathology; Tumor cell dissociation; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - metabolism; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.03.019

Abstract Objective Different patterns of invasion (PIs) have prognostic impact in several types of cancer and are associated with different grades of peritumoral stromal remodeling, characterized by the desmoplastic stromal response (DSR). One key regulator influencing cellular motility and peritumoral stromal response is c-met/HGF. This study evaluates the association between different PI, peritumoral DSR and its correlation to the expression of c-met/HGF in squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix (CX). Study design 131 advanced stage CX (FIGO III/IV) were re-evaluated histologically regarding PI, using a two-level scoring system. The tumor grows in solid cords/trabeculae in finger-like PI and in very small groups or single cells in spray-like PI. DSR was categorized as none/weak and moderate/strong. The tumors were stained with antibodies against c-met and HGF. The staining of >30% of tumor cells was defined as overexpression. The PI was correlated to the prognostic outcome, different categories of DSR and expression status of c-met and HGF. Results 66.4% of the tumors showed a finger-like, and 33.6% a spray-like PI. The spray-like PI showed a reduced two-year overall survival when compared to the finger-like PI (14.0% vs. 29.1%, respectively; p = 0.012), and was associated with moderate/strong DSR. The majority of the tumors showed overexpression of c-met (85.4%) and HGF (74.8%). There was no correlation between the expression status of c-met/HGF and the FIGO stage, peritumoral DSR or the prognostic outcome. Conclusions Spray-like PI is of prognostic impact in cervical carcinoma FIGO III/IV and is associated with strong peritumoral stromal remodeling. There is no prognostic impact of the immunohistochemical expression of c-met/HGF in advanced stage cervical carcinomas.