Expression of genetic marker AFF3 may forecast prognosis and progression of cervical cancer, finds study

Cervical cancer poses a significant global health burden, with over 300,000 annual deaths and ranking as the fourth most prevalent cancer in women. Current screening methods have constraints, underscoring the demand for pioneering treatments. Recent study pinpointed distinct genetic material that exhibited notable variations among cervical cancer patients with diverse survival outcomes, identified in tissue samples collected post-surgery. The study investigated the expression of AFF3 in cervical cancer (CC) tissues and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Tissue samples and clinical data were collected from 78 CC patients who underwent surgery. AFF3 mRNA and protein levels were evaluated in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The results showed that AFF3 expression was significantly downregulated in CC tissues compared to normal tissues. Low AFF3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and advanced FIGO stage. Patients with low AFF3 expression had a lower 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of 52.78% compared to 78.57% in the high AFF3 expression group.

Prognostic Factors and AFF3 Expression

Univariate analysis identified AFF3 expression, FIGO stage, LNM, lymphovascular space invasion, depth of myometrial invasion, and histological grade as prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis confirmed low AFF3 expression and histological grade 3 as independent risk factors for poor prognosis in CC patients. Patients with low AFF3 expression had a 2.848-fold higher risk of death compared to those with high AFF3 expression.

Potential Clinical Utility of AFF3

The study provides evidence that decreased AFF3 expression is associated with more aggressive tumor features and poorer survival outcomes in CC. AFF3 could serve as a potential biomarker for prognostic assessment and risk stratification of CC patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanistic role of AFF3 in CC development and progression. Expanding the sample size and investigating the upstream and downstream regulatory pathways of AFF3 will enhance the understanding of its clinical utility in CC management.

Key Points

Here are the 6 key points from the research paper:

1. The study investigated the expression of AFF3 in cervical cancer (CC) tissues and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

2. The results showed that AFF3 expression was significantly downregulated in CC tissues compared to normal tissues. Low AFF3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and advanced FIGO stage. Patients with low AFF3 expression had a lower 5-year overall survival (OS) rate.

3. Univariate analysis identified AFF3 expression, FIGO stage, LNM, lymphovascular space invasion, depth of myometrial invasion, and histological grade as prognostic factors.

4. Multivariate analysis confirmed low AFF3 expression and histological grade 3 as independent risk factors for poor prognosis in CC patients. Patients with low AFF3 expression had a 2.848-fold higher risk of death compared to those with high AFF3 expression.

5. The study provides evidence that decreased AFF3 expression is associated with more aggressive tumor features and poorer survival outcomes in CC.

6. AFF3 could serve as a potential biomarker for prognostic assessment and risk stratification of CC patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanistic role of AFF3 in CC development and progression.

Reference –

Yaxuan Zhang, Lanying Li, Qingling Han & Lanying Wen (2024) The differential expression of AFF3 in cervical cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 44:1, 2333784, DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2024.2333784