Membrane proteins in neoplasic and normal uterine cervix

Tumor cells exhibit phenotypic and genotypic differences in comparison to n ormal cells. These differences can be used to identify proteins important f or tumor growth and, therefore, potentially used in the diagnosis and follo w-up of patients. The objective of this work was to investigate the electro phoretic pattern of cytoplasm membrane proteins from normal and malignant c ervix using polyacrylamide-SDS gels. A highly reproducible protein pattern was found in the 29 samples of normal cervix whereas three well-defined pat terns of protein bands were observed in the 48 tumor specimens (pattern I: 25%, pattern II:29.2% and pattern III: 45.8%). A low concentration or absen ce of high molecular weight proteins was observed (p <0.5) in tumor samples . None of the tumor protein patterns correlated with the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients. Nine out of 11 patients (82%) showing the patt ern III had a complete clinical response whereas only 55% (11 out of 20) of those with patterns I and II showed a complete response. However, this dif ference was non-significant (p=0.1247). Tn conclusion, we demonstrate that there is a gain and loss of cytoplasmic membrane proteins in turners, shown as different protein band patterns. These findings could have clinical and biological significance that must be further evaluated.