scholarly journals Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as Potential Targets for the Prognosis and Treatment of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihua Ou ◽  
Shitong Lin ◽  
Jiaying Qiu ◽  
Wencheng Ding ◽  
Peidi Ren ◽  
...  

To understand the etiological, structural, and immunological characteristics of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), we conducted single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) experiments for cervical samples from 20 individuals. When exploring the possible factors shaping the intra-individual immune heterogeneity in CSCC, we identified a cluster of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) enriched around some tumors, which highly expressed ACTA2, POSTN, ITGB4, and FAP. Results showed that the CAFs might support the growth and metastasis of tumors by inhibiting lymphocyte infiltration and remodeling the tumor extracellular matrix. Moreover, high CAF signals predicted poorer clinical outcomes for CSCC patients. Our data also revealed the infection profiles of HPV in tumors, the critical factors involved in the progression of cervical cancerous lesions, and the association between tumor metabolism and immune response intensity. Collectively, our findings may improve the prognostic and therapeutic methods for CSCC.

Open Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 864-872
Author(s):  
Wenting Li ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Yiqun Li ◽  
Cuicui Wang ◽  
Xinzhi Fang

Abstract Background We investigated the expression and clinical significance of miR-141 and miR-340 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Methods Expression of miR-141 and miR-340 in CSCC, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and normal cervical squamous epithelium were detected by qRT-PCR. PTEN was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Their relationship with clinicopathological features was analyzed. Results The changes of miR-141 and miR-340 were different in CSCC, HSIL, and normal squamous epithelium (P = 0.030). miR-141 expression was statistically significant in gross type, differentiation, uterine corpus invasion, nerve invasion, vagina invasion, and FIGO stage in CSCC (P < 0.05). miR-340 expression was related to tumor size, differentiation, nerve invasion, lymph node metastasis, and FIGO stage in CSCC (P < 0.05). miR-141 and miR-340 expressions were statistically significant in different ages (P < 0.05) in HSIL. The AUC of miR-141 in CSCC diagnosis and that of miR-340 in HSIL diagnosis were 0.893 and 0.764, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of miR-141 for diagnosis of CSCC were 95.0% and 60.8%, respectively, while those of miR-340 for diagnosis of HSIL were 90.0 and 48.6%, respectively. miR-141 and miR-340 expressions are associated with PTEN expression (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001). Conclusion miR-141 and miR-340 may be associated with their target gene PTEN and involved in the carcinogenesis of cervical squamous epithelium.


2021 ◽  
pp. 106689692199072
Author(s):  
Jingjing Hu ◽  
Kojo R. Rawish ◽  
Mariah Leivo ◽  
Dennis Adams ◽  
Somaye Y. Zare ◽  
...  

When more than one focus of stromal invasion is present in a superficially invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), determination of the tumoral lateral extent/horizontal extension, and hence tumor-nodes-metastases (TNM) staging, can be problematic. In recent years, a diagnostic approach to distinguish multifocal pT1a1 from pT1b cases has gained increased attention. These criteria call for classifying SCC as multifocal when invasive foci are separated by blocks of uninvolved cervical tissues, and/or are located on separated cervical lips in a tumor that is discontinuous, and/or are situated far apart (≥2 mm) from each other. In this study, we assess our experience with multifocal stage pT1a1 cervical SCC that was retrospectively classified as such using these criteria. Slides from the loop electrosurgical excision or conization specimens, comprising 212 pT1a1, 173 pT1a2, and 206 pT1b cases, were reviewed. Twenty-four (11%) of the 212 pT1a1 cases were classified as multifocal after review. The 24 multifocal pT1a1 cases were compared with the 188 unifocal pT1a1 cases regarding a variety of clinicopathologic parameters. Notably, these 2 groups showed no significant differences regarding all parameters that were evaluated, including patient age, recurrence rate, primary tumoral features in the primary excision specimen (rate of positive margins, median depth of stromal invasion, frequency of lymphovascular invasion), and frequency of residual disease in additional excisions. In summary, we demonstrate comparably favorable patient outcomes in both unifocal and multifocal cases of pT1a1 SCC of the cervix, and, accordingly, we conclusively affirm the validity of the aforementioned criteria for establishing multifocality.


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