Relevance of gamma-glutamyltransferase--a marker for apoptotic balance--in predicting tumor stage and prognosis in cervical cancer.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Recent large epidemiologic population-based studies identified gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) as a marker for increased cervical cancer incidence. Furthermore, high levels of GGT seem to increase the risk of progression of high-grade cervical dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. Therefore, we evaluated the association between pre-therapeutic serum GGT levels, tumor stage and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In this multi-center trial, pre-therapeutic GGT levels were examined in 692 patients with cervical cancer. GGT levels were correlated with clinico-pathological parameters. Patients were assigned to previously described GGT risk groups and uni- and multivariable survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

GGT serum levels were associated with FIGO stage (p<0.0001) and age (r=0.2, p<0.0001) but not with lymph node involvement (p=0.85), and histological type (p=0.98). High-risk GGT group affiliation (p=0.01 and p<0.0001) was associated with poor disease-free and overall survival in a univariate analysis, but not in a multivariable Cox-regression model (p=0.59 and p=0.171). We further investigated the association between prognosis and GGT and observed a linear correlation between GGT and prognosis. Therefore we were not able to identify a clear prognostic cut-off value for GGT in patients with cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS:

High GGT--a marker for apoptosis and cervical cancer risk--is associated with advanced tumor stage in patients with cervical cancer.

• Authors: Stephan Polterauer, Gerda Hofstetter, Christoph Grimm, Jasmin Rahhal, Mariella Mailath-Pokorny, Maria Kohl, Nicole Concin, Clemens Tempfer, Christian Marth, Alexander Reinthaller
• Journal: Gynecologic oncology (Gynecol Oncol) Vol. 122 Issue 3 Pg. 590-4 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1095-6859 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21664662 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase

Topics

• Apoptosis (physiology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (enzymology, pathology)
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase (blood)