BMC Cancer (Nov 2022)

High mesothelin expression is correlated with non-squamous cell histology and poor survival in cervical cancer: a retrospective study

  • Shigemasa Takamizawa,
  • Shu Yazaki,
  • Yuki Kojima,
  • Hiroshi Yoshida,
  • Rui Kitadai,
  • Tadaaki Nishikawa,
  • Tatsunori Shimoi,
  • Kazuki Sudo,
  • Hitomi Sumiyoshi Okuma,
  • Maki Tanioka,
  • Emi Noguchi,
  • Masaya Uno,
  • Mitsuya Ishikawa,
  • Tomoyasu Kato,
  • Yasuhiro Fujiwara,
  • Kan Yonemori

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10277-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Mesothelin (MSLN) is a cell-surface glycoprotein found in various solid tumours. Cancer therapies targeting MSLN have been developed in recent years; however, the available information on MSLN expression in cervical cancer is limited. This study aimed to evaluate MSLN expression in various histological types of cervical cancer and examine its relationship with prognosis. Methods This retrospective study included patients with cervical cancer who underwent primary surgery between January 2000 and December 2020 at our institution. MSLN expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using clone SP74 and defined as positive if MSLN was expressed at any intensity. High MSLN expression was defined as an intensity of ≥ 2 + in ≥ 30% of tumour cells. The association between MSLN expression and clinicopathological factors was evaluated. Results Overall, 123 patients were identified, and 140 tumour samples, including 17 paired primary and metastatic samples, were evaluated. Concerning histological type, 67 patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas 56 had non-SCC. MSLN expression was observed in 98.4% (121/123) of primary tumours. High MSLN expression was observed in 63.4% of samples (78/123), but it differed between the histological types (49.2% for SCC vs. 80.4% for non-SCC, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between MSLN expression in primary and metastatic lesions (Rs = 0.557, p = 0.015). In patients with common histological types, overall survival (OS) was shorter in the high MSLN expression group than in the low MSLN expression group (hazard ratio, 3.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–15.3, p = 0.03). Conclusions MSLN was highly expressed in patients with cervical cancer, especially in those with non-SCC. High MSLN expression in the primary lesion was significantly associated with poor OS, and its expression was maintained in metastatic lesions. Our findings indicate that MSLN may be an attractive therapeutic target for cervical cancer. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. 2014-393. 1 June 2015

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