C-FOS OVEREXPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PATHONEOGENESIS OF INVASIVE CERVICAL-CANCER

The molecular genetics of human cervical cancer remains to be defined to a significant extent. The current study examined the prevalence and significance of proto-oncogene c-fos overexpression in cervical cance r. Immunohistochemical staining of c-fos oncoprotein was performed in 27 invasive cervical carcinomas and 30 cervical intraepithelial neopla sias (CINs) managed in our department. Eight normal cervical specimens were used as controls. In the patients with invasive cervical cancer, 8 were stage I, 12 were stage II, and 7 had stage III-IV disease. Thr ee of the cancers were well differentiated, 18 were moderately differe ntiated and 6 were poorly differentiated. Twenty invasive cervical car cinomas (59%) and 3 CIN (10%) showed overexpression of c-fos. The diff erence is statistically significant (p < 0.001). No statistically sign ificant relationship was found between c-fos overexpression and clinic al stage, histological grade, or survival in invasive cervical cancer. In this population, c-fos overexpression appears to be common in inva sive cervical cancer and correlated with the ability of the tumor to b ecome invasive, but is not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.