Abstract
Objective
Development of novel approaches for quantitative analysis of gene expression in intact
tumour cells could provide new methods for the detection of cervical cancer. Molecular
beacons (MBs) are single-stranded oligonucleotide probes that form stem-and-loop structures.
Survivin, a member of the ‘inhibitor of apoptosis’ family of proteins, is highly expressed
in cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of MBs
targeting wild-type survivin in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Study design
MBs with oligonucleotide sequences complementing survivin mRNA and covalently linked
with FITC or Cy3 were designed and synthesized. The specificity and sensitivity of
survivin MBs were examined in human cervical cancer cell lines and smears from cervical
cancer patients, and confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
(RT-PCR), immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and the thinprep cytological test
(TCT).
Results
Both survivin MB-FITC and MB-Cy3 produced a strong fluorescent signal in cervical
cancer cells, and the intensity was consistent with the results from RT-PCR, Western
blotting and immunocytochemical staining. In the initial clinical cohort study, the
sensitivity of survivin MBs was 61.37% (27/44) and the specificity was 72.72% (34/44);
the sensitivities of Western blotting and TCT were 76.1% (32/42) and 68.19% (30/44),
respectively. No significant difference in sensitivity was observed between MBs, Western
blotting and TCT for different tumour grades and International Federation of Gynecology
and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages.
Conclusions
Survivin MBs are specific and sensitive molecular probes for the detection of cervical
cancer cells. They have great potential in the early detection and follow-up of patients
with cervical cancer.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 04, 2011
Accepted:
June 15,
2011
Received in revised form:
April 27,
2011
Received:
November 23,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
