Value of Tenascin‐C content and association with clinicopathological parameters in uterine cervical lesions

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Abstract
To determine whether the content of the matrix protein tenascin‐C (Tn‐C) is of diagnostic or prognostic value in cervical lesions, we evaluated increases in Tn‐C immunoreactivity in 80 formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded biopsies and surgical specimens of the uterine cervix. Tn‐C content in the basement membrane zone and in the stroma was graded and compared to some prognostic parameters. In the normal cervix, Tn‐C formed a thin continuous band. In cervicitis, Tn‐C bands thickened in the basement membrane zone and the adjacent stroma in the form of thin filaments. In 30 squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) of various grades, Tn‐C bands were either slightly (1+) or moderately (2+) thickened in the basement membrane zone, while slight stromal Tn‐C immunoreactivity in the form of thin bands was observed in 12 cases, regardless of grade and inflammatory stromal reaction. In invasive carcinoma, Tn‐C content was markedly increased in the stroma and around the invasive nests of tumors. The intensity of Tn‐C immunoreactivity was significantly higher in grade I tumors than in others (p < 0.04). The intensity of increase in Tn‐C immunoreactivity was 10.5‐fold (95% CI 3.39–32.5) higher in invasive cervical carcinomas than in others (cervicitis, low‐grade SIL and high‐grade SIL) (p = 0.0001). A significant correlation was found between weak Tn‐C immunoreactivity and lymphatic space invasion (p = 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.01), desmoplastic stromal component (p = 0.0001) and stromal inflammation (p = 0.002). In conclusion, increase in Tn‐C immunoreactivity may be of value in the assessment of noninvasive and invasive cervical lesions and the appearance of Tn‐C may be an indicator of adequate biologic defense in cervical cancer patients.