302P - Expression of ERCC4 gene and its correlation with clinical and pathological parameters in cervical cancer

Background

DNA repair pathways are implicated both in carcinogenesis and progression of cancer. The genetically determined baseline expression level of DNA repair genes is associated with risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer. In this study, we aim to evaluate expression level of one such DNA repair gene -Excision Repair Cross- Complementation Group 4 (ERCC4) and its correlation to various clinical and pathological parameters in cervical cancer in North Indian population.

Methods

Expression profiling of ERCC4 in 55 histopathologically confirmed cervical tumor biopsies and 25 control samples (hysterectomy) were done using Real time PCR(q-PCR), western blot analysis. Correlation analysis was done with different clinical and pathological parameters. ROC curve assessment was done to check the diagnostic utilities of the calculated data. One way ANOVA and t-test were used to calculate statistical significance using Graphpad PRISM 9.

Results

Relative fold change for mRNA expression analysis showed up-regulation of ERCC4 in 78.2% (n=43) patient biopsies, calculated by ΔΔct method. At translational level, the up regulation was around 52% (n=28). The up-regulations were significant with p value less than 0.05. Also, ERCC4, mRNA expression showed positive correlation with tumor stage and grade. Positive correlation was also observed in ERCC4 protein expression with respect to different age groups and histological status. High risk HPV-18 strain type was shown to be more influential in up regulating ERCC4 expression, both at transcriptional and translational level.

Conclusions

ERCC4 is significantly up-regulated at both transcriptional and translational levels in cervical cancer patient cohort, comprising of North Indian population. Higher expression of ERCC4 in tumor samples suggests its role as a potential diagnostic and/or prognostic marker in Ca Cervix.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, India.

Funding

BHU under Institute of Eminence (IoE).

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.