EXPRESSION OF SEX HORMONE-BINDING GLOBULIN MESSENGER-RNA IN UTERINE CERVICAL CANCERS

To explore the role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the intr acellular steroidal actions in human uterine cervical cancers, the exp ression of SHBG mRNA as a manifestation of intracellular SHBG expressi on was investigated using the competitive reverse transcription-polyme rase chain reaction-Southern blot analysis. The expression of SHBG mRN A was detected in all cervical endometria and cancers analyzed. The le vels of SHBG mRNA in cervical cancers were significantly lower (p < 0. 01) than in the normal cervical endometrium. In cervical cancers, the levels of SHBG mRNA in cervical adenocarcinomas were significantly hig her (p < 0.01) than in keratinizing and small cell nonkeratinizing squ amous cell carcinomas, and tended to be higher than in large cell nonk eratinizing squamous cell carcinomas. There was no difference in expre ssion among the clinical stages of cervical cancers. These data sugges t that human uterine cervical cancers, especially adenocarcinomas. mig ht synthesize SHBG intracellularly, and might conserve the activity of SHBG-related steroidal mechanisms to some extent.