Objective: To explore the role of apoptosis stimulating proteins of p53 2 (ASPP2) and inhibitory member of the ASPP family (iASPP) in the occurrence of cervical cancer and the relation between these two proteins and p53.
Methods: We used immunohistochemical method to detect the expression of ASPP2, iASPP, p53 in 51 patients with early cervical cancer tissue, 53 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II-III, 48 patients with CIN I and 45 patients with normal cervical tissue. The relation among ASPP2, iASPP and p53 was analyzed.
Results: When p53 was negative, the positive expression rate of ASPP2 in the cervical cancer group, the CIN II-III group, the CIN I group and the normal cervix group was gradually increased. There was significant difference between the CIN II-III group or the cervical cancer group and the normal cervix (P<0.05), but no statistical difference was found among the other groups (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of iASPP in the 4 groups gradually reduced, and the difference was significant difference between the cervical cancer group or the CIN II-III group and the normal cervix group (P<0.05). When the p53 was positive, there was no significant change in the expression of ASPP2 and iASPP in every group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: ASPP2 and iASPP may play an important role in the occurrence of early stage of cervical cancer by regulating the ability of wild type p53 in induction of apoptosis. ASPP2 and iASPP gene might be a potential molecular target for cervical carcinoma.