Immunohistochemical expression of granzyme B and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in normal uterine cervices and low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the immunoexpression of granzyme B and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the variants of cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.

Methods: Granzyme B immunohistochemical expression was studied in the epithelium, stroma and in both the epithelium + stroma of 142 fragments of uterine cervix; there were 34 grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1), 36 grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 2), 33 grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 3) and 39 uterine cervix fragments without abnormalities - control group. Immunoexpression of VEGF was studied in 160 uterine cervix fragments, with 43 grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1), 33 grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 2), 31 grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 3) and 53 uterine cervix fragments without abnormalities--control group.

Results: In the stroma, immunoexpression of granzyme B in grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias was smaller than in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias. High VEGF immunoexpression was found in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias while it was low in grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias and in the control group.

Conclusion: The higher the severity of the cervical intraepithelial lesion, the higher the immunoexpression of granzyme B. A progressive increase in VEGF immunoexpression was found in the intense grade, according to the severity of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.