The Immunohistochemical Expression of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer

Q: What EMT markers were investigated in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer?

The study examined immunohistochemical expression of TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG proteins as EMT markers in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.

Q: How did EMT marker expression in precancerous lesions compare with controls?

IHC analysis showed higher expression of EMT markers in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer than in the control group.

Q: How did marker expression differ across cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades and cancer grades?

Stronger TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG expression was observed in CIN3 versus CIN1 and CIN2 comparisons, and in cervical cancer differences were reported between G1 and G2 and between G1 and G3.

Sep 24, 2026

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In epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), cells shift from epithelial traits to mesenchymal features, a process linked to metastatic behavior in malignancies such as cervical cancer. This study determined the localization and associations of immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG proteins in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. IHC results showed higher EMT marker expression in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer than in controls, with stronger TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG signals in CIN3 vs CIN1/CIN2 and in cervical cancer grades (G1–G2, G1–G3).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

EMT and its relevance to cervical cancer

Immunohistochemistry approach and study aim

Communication The Immunohistochemical Expression of Epithelial– Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer Aneta Popiel-Kopaczyk 1, *, Aleksandra Piotrowska 1, Patrycja Sputa-Grzegrzolka 2, Beata Smolarz 3, Hanna Romanowicz 3, Piotr Dziegiel 1,4, Marzenna Podhorska-Okolow 5 and Christopher Kobierzycki 1 Citation: Popiel-Kopaczyk, A.; Piotrowska, A.; Sputa-Grzegrzolka, P.; Smolarz, B.; Romanowicz, H.; Dziegiel, P.; Podhorska-Okolow, M.; Kobierzycki, C. The Immunohistochemical Expression of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 8063. [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)ijms24098063 Academic Editor: Andrea Tinelli Received: 24 March 2023 Revised: 26 April 2023 Accepted: 28 April 2023 Published: 29 April 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; [aleksandra.piotrowska@umw.edu.pl](aleksandra.piotrowska@umw.edu.pl) (A.P.); [piotr.dziegiel@umw.edu.pl](piotr.dziegiel@umw.edu.pl) (P.D.); [christopher.kobierzycki@umw.edu.pl](christopher.kobierzycki@umw.edu.pl) (C.K.) 2 Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; [patrycja.sputa-grzegrzolka@umw.edu.pl](patrycja.sputa-grzegrzolka@umw.edu.pl) 3 Department of Pathology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; [smolbea@wp.pl](smolbea@wp.pl) (B.S.); [hanna-romanowicz@wp.pl](hanna-romanowicz@wp.pl) (H.R.) 4 Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland 5 Division of Ultrastructural Research, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; [marzenna.podhorska-okolow@umw.edu.pl](marzenna.podhorska-okolow@umw.edu.pl) * [Correspondence: popielaneta1@gmail.com](Correspondence: popielaneta1@gmail.com) Abstract: In the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, cells lose their epithelial phenotype and gain mesenchymal features. This phenomenon was observed in the metastatic phase of neoplastic diseases, e.g., cervical cancer. There are speciﬁc markers that are expressed in the EMT. The aim of this study was to determine the localization of and associations between the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG proteins in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. The IHC analysis disclosed higher expressions of EMT markers in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer than in the control group. Moreover, stronger expression of TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG was observed in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) vs. CIN1, CIN3 vs. CIN2, and CIN2 vs. CIN1 cases (p < 0.05) . In cervical cancer, IHC reactions demonstrated differences in TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG expression in grade 1 (G1) vs. grade 2 (G2) (p < 0.0011; p < 0.0017; p < 0.0001, respectively) and in G1 vs. grade 3 (G3) (p < 0.0029; p < 0.0005; p < 0.0001, respectively) . The results of our study clearly showed that existing differences in the expression of the tested markers in precancerous vs. cancerous lesions may be utilized in the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Further studies on bigger populations, as well as in comparison with well-known markers, may improve our outcomes. Keywords: SNAIL; TWIST; SLUG; EMT; cervical cancer; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; immunohistochemistry; HSIL; LSIL 1. Introduction Cervical cancer is one of the leading malignancies of the female genital system. In the United States alone,

FAQs

What EMT markers were investigated in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer?

The study examined immunohistochemical expression of TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG proteins as EMT markers in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.

How did EMT marker expression in precancerous lesions compare with controls?

IHC analysis showed higher expression of EMT markers in precancerous lesions and cervical cancer than in the control group.

How did marker expression differ across cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades and cancer grades?

Stronger TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG expression was observed in CIN3 versus CIN1 and CIN2 comparisons, and in cervical cancer differences were reported between G1 and G2 and between G1 and G3.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Levi