RESUMO
Prolactin receptor (PRLR) overexpression could play a role in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to determine prolactin (PRL) and PRLR expression in biopsies from patients with precursor lesions and uterine cervical cancer. PRLR expression was analyzed in 63 paraffin-embedded biopsies of uterine cervical tissue. In total, eleven low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 23 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 21 uterine cervical cancers (UCC) and 8 normal epithelium (NE) were examined using immunoperoxidase staining and Western blot analysis. Additionally, PRL expression was identified in human cervical cancer serum and tissues. The PRLR expression was found to be significantly increased in cervical cancer in comparison with normal tissue and precursor lesions (P < 0.0003). The presence of the long isoform of the PRLR was observed only in cervical cancer tissues. Serum PRL levels were normal in all samples and local prolactin expression was similar in precursor lesions and cervical cancer by Western blot analysis. Our data suggest a possible role for PRLR in the progression of cervical cancer.
Assuntos
Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Prolactina/metabolismo , Receptores da Prolactina/metabolismo , Displasia do Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Biópsia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Colo do Útero/metabolismo , Colo do Útero/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Gradação de Tumores , Prolactina/genética , Receptores da Prolactina/genética , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/patologia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/fisiopatologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/patologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
The altered expression of the prolactin receptor (PRLR) has been associated with the development of various types of cancer, particularly breast, prostate and endometrial cancer. However, in laryngeal tumors, the expression of PRLR has not yet been documented. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and localization of PRLR in laryngeal cancer (LC) in comparison with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). PRLR expression was analyzed in 48 paraffin-embedded tissues (18 RRP and 30 laryngeal cancer tissues) by immunoperoxidase staining. Furthermore, PRLR expression was evaluated in ten samples from each group by Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR. PRLR was observed in all laryngeal tumors at different intensities. PRLR overexpression was significantly associated (P<0.005) with LC. The staining pattern was homogeneous, mainly cytoplasmic, and confined to the tumor area. We found increased expression of different isoforms in LC in comparison with RRP. Our results suggest a possible role of PRL/PRLR in the development of LC. PRLR may be useful as a target for further investigations in laryngeal tissues.
