Downregulation of SASH1 correlates with poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of SASH1 expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients suffering cervical cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expressions of SASH1 mRNA and protein in cervical cancer tissues and matched normal cervical tissues were detected by Real-time PCR and Immunohistochemistry. Based on the above findings, the association among SASH1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. Overall survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The variables were used in univariate and multivariate analysis by the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: The results demonstrated that both SASH1 mRNA and proteins were downregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared with those in matched normal tissues (both p < 0.05). Also, decreased SASH1 expression in cervical cancer was found to be significantly associated with high FIGO Stage (p = 0.001), lymph nodes metastasis (p = 0.003) and differentiation (p = 0.018). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that low SASH1 expression level was associated with poorer overall survival (p < 0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that status of SASH1 was an independent prognostic factor for patients with cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that SASH1 can be useful as a new prognostic marker and therapeutic target in cervical cancer patients.