Abnormal expression of pan-ras, c-myc and tp53 in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix: correlation with HPV and prognosis

The aim of this study is to assess, in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervi x, the expression of pan-ras, c-myc and tp53 at protein level using an immu nohistochemical (IHC) staining method. One hundred and seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were recruited. Fifty-four patients w ere of stage 1B/2A and 53 were of stage 2B and above. Positive IHC staining s of pan-ras, c-myc and tp53 proteins were detected in 80.4%, 32.7% and 25. 2% of cases, respectively. No significant correlation between overexpressio n of pan-ms and c-myc was detected. However, significantly higher percentag es of overexpression of c-myc was found in association with overly expresse d tp53 samples (p = 0.014). Human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in 77.6 % of cancers. HPV 16/18 was detected in 72% Of cancers. Overexpression of p an-ras and c-myc had no correlation with HPV detection and stage. However, higher percentages of overexpression of tp53 were found in early stage dise ase (p = 0.017) and in HPV 16/18 positive tumors (p = 0.006). Overexpressio n of pan-ras, c-myc and tp53 alone or in more than one oncogenes had no pro gnostic significance on survival.