Factors Regulating SCC Antigen Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

• Published in: Tumor biology 1998, Vol.19 (6), p.494-504
• Main Authors: Maruo, Takeshi, Yoshida, Shigeki, Samoto, Takashi, Tateiwa, Yoichi, Peng, Xinjian, Takeuchi, Satoshi, Motoyama, Satoru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 20th Anniversary Meeting on SCC Antigen · Proceedings; Antigens, Neoplasm - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - immunology; Cervix Uteri - immunology; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Female; Humans; Serpins; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - drug therapy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - immunology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - radiotherapy
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1159/000030043

Expression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen emerged concurrently with squamous formation of the uterine cervix and increased during the neoplastic transformation of the cervical squamous epithelium. SCC antigen expression differed considerably among the histomorphologic cell types of cervical carcinoma. Large cell nonkeratinizing carcinoma contained high levels of the antigen. In contrast, no appreciable expression of SCC antigen was observed in small cell nonkeratinizing carcinoma. The pattern of SCC antigen expression closely coincided with EGF receptor (EGF-R) expression in cervical squamous neoplasia. This suggests that the expression of SCC and EGF-R in cervical carcinoma is related to the differentiation or dedifferentiation processes of the tumor cells. SCC production by CaSki cervical epidermoid carcinoma cells was stimulated by EGF. It seems likely that an autocrine system, in which EGF serves as the signal, may exist in cervical squamous carcinoma. 17β-estradiol and L-triiodothyronine were found to upregulate EGF-R expression, proliferative potential and SCC production in the CaSki cervical carcinoma cells.