Ola A. Harb
Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Title: Combined Ezrin Overexpression and E-cadherin Down-regulation as Predictors of Invasiveness, Higher Incidence of Metastases, Progression and Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer Patients
Biography
Biography: Ola A. Harb
Abstract
Background;
Recent research is focusing on discovering novel effective targets for therapy of advanced and metastatic cervical cancer. Ezrin that is encoded by EZR gene is an Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin (ERM) family member. Ezrin is a linking protein of the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton that mediates the connection between both of them. E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent glycoprotein which is found in normal epithelial cells. It could mediate cell adhesion.The relation between the expression of Ezrin and E-cad and relations between other clinical and pathological features in cervical cancer patients has not been sufficiently clarified.
Aim of this research was to evaluate Ezrin and E-cadherin expression in cervical cancers patients, to correlate such expression with pathological and clinical data of the patients, to explore their values in cancer progression and prognosis of cervical cancer patients.
Methods; We have assessed Ezrin and E-cadherin expressions in sections from 55 paraffin blocks of cervical cancer, we have followed our patients for 3 years then we correlate expression of both markers with clinic pathological criteria, cancer progression, relapse and survival rates.
Results; Ezrin over expression and E-cadherin down regulation were associated with higher grade, advanced FIGO stage, (p<0.001), presence of distant metastases (p=0.003), poor therapy response, higher relapse rate (p<0.001) and poor DFS& OS rates (p<0.001).
Conclusion; Ezrin over expression is associated with down regulation of E-cadherin and were related to more invasiveness liability, relapse after successive therapy and poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.
Key words; cervical cancer, Ezrin, E-cadherin, relapse, progression, survival