Calcium-activated potassium channels as potential early markers of human cervical cancer

  • Authors:
    • Ana Ramírez
    • Eunice Vera
    • Armando Gamboa‑Domínguez
    • Paul Lambert
    • Patricio Gariglio
    • Javier Camacho
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  • Published online on: March 7, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8187
  • Pages: 7249-7254
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Abstract

Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer-associated mortality in women in developing countries. Thus, novel early markers are required. Ion channels have gained great interest as tumor markers, including cervical cancer. The calcium‑activated potassium channel KCNMA1 (subunit α‑1 from subfamily M) has been associated with different malignancies, including tumors such as breast and ovarian cancer that are influenced by hormones. The KCNMA1 channel blocker iberiotoxin decreases the proliferation of HeLa cervical cancer cells. Nevertheless, KCNMA1 channel expression during cervical carcinogenesis remains elusive. Therefore, KCNMA1 expression was studied in cervical cancer development. FVB transgenic mice expressing the E7‑oncogene of high‑risk human papilloma virus, and non‑transgenic mice were treated with estradiol‑releasing pellets during 3 or 6 months to induce cervical lesions. Twenty‑four human cervical biopsies from non‑cancerous, low‑ or high‑grade intraepithelial lesions, or cervical cancer were also studied. mRNA and protein expression was assessed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Cervical dysplasia and carcinoma were observed only in the transgenic mice treated with estradiol for 3 and 6 months, respectively. Estradiol treatment increased KCNMA1 mRNA and protein expression in all groups; however, the highest levels were observed in the transgenic mice with carcinoma. KCNMA1 protein expression in the squamous cells of the transformation zone was observed only in the transgenic mice with cervical dysplasia or cancer. Human biopsies from non‑cancerous cervix did not display KCNMA1 protein expression; in contrast, the majority of the tissues with cervical lesions (16/18) displayed KCNMA1 protein expression. The lowest channel immunostaining intensity was observed in biopsies from low‑grade dysplasia and the strongest in the carcinoma tissues. These results suggest KCNMA1 channels as potential early cervical cancer markers.
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May-2018
Volume 15 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Ramírez A, Vera E, Gamboa‑Domínguez A, Lambert P, Gariglio P and Camacho J: Calcium-activated potassium channels as potential early markers of human cervical cancer. Oncol Lett 15: 7249-7254, 2018.
APA
Ramírez, A., Vera, E., Gamboa‑Domínguez, A., Lambert, P., Gariglio, P., & Camacho, J. (2018). Calcium-activated potassium channels as potential early markers of human cervical cancer. Oncology Letters, 15, 7249-7254. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8187
MLA
Ramírez, A., Vera, E., Gamboa‑Domínguez, A., Lambert, P., Gariglio, P., Camacho, J."Calcium-activated potassium channels as potential early markers of human cervical cancer". Oncology Letters 15.5 (2018): 7249-7254.
Chicago
Ramírez, A., Vera, E., Gamboa‑Domínguez, A., Lambert, P., Gariglio, P., Camacho, J."Calcium-activated potassium channels as potential early markers of human cervical cancer". Oncology Letters 15, no. 5 (2018): 7249-7254. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8187