Study on the Association between the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 Expression and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection in Cervical Cancer and Precancerous Lesions.

AIMS: To discuss the correlation between the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

METHODS: One hundred and sixty four cases of cervical lesions tissue samples were collected (60 cases of cervical cancer, 38 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] stage I, 32 cases of CIN II, 34 cases of CIN III). HPV infection status and expression strength of FGFR4 of all samples were detected and compared among different groups. The correlation between the HPV infection and the expression strength of FGFR4 was analyzed.

RESULTS: There were differences of the HPV infection status and type distribution and FGFR4 expression strength among the 4 groups; The infection rate of high-risk HPV in cervical cancer group was higher than that of the 3 CIN groups. The FGFR4 positive expression rate of the cervical cancer group was also obviously higher than that of the 3 CIN groups; HPV infection was correlated with the FGFR4 expression strength and the FGFR4 expression was stronger when infected with high-risk type HPV.

CONCLUSION: The expression of FGFR4 in the cervical cancer and CIN tissues was correlated with the HPV infection and the FGFR4 may be involved in the development of the HPV-infected cervical lesions.