Objective: This study aimed to detect the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3B (EIF3B) and investigate its correlation with tumor features and survival in cervical cancer patients.
Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 187 cervical cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) patients underwent tumor resection. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of EIF3B in tissue samples. Besides, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. The median follow-up duration was 69 months, and the last follow-up date was 2017/12/31.
Results: EIF3B expression was higher in tumor tissue compared to paired adjacent tissue (45.5% vs. 32.1%, P= 0.015). Besides, EIF3B high expression was associated with higher Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage (P= 0.001) and presence of lymph node metastasis (P= 0.002). As to survival profiles, Kaplan-Meier curves disclosed that DFS (P< 0.001) and OS (P< 0.001) were both shorter in EIF3B high expression group compared to EIF3B low expression group. Multivariate Cox's regression analysis disclosed that EIF3B high expression, pathological grade III (vs I/II) and FIGO Stage III/IV (vs I/II) were independent predictive factors for unfavorable DFS as well as OS in cervical cancer patients (all P value < 0.05).
Conclusion: EIF3B is overexpressed, and its high expression correlates with higher FIGO Stage, lymph node metastasis and unfavorable survival profiles in cervical cancer patients.
Keywords: Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3B (EIF3B); cervical cancer; prognosis; survival.