Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the role of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase in the development of uterine cervical squamous carcinoma. Methods:From January2008 to December 2008, 116 uterine cervical carcinoma specimens and 18 metastatic lymph node specimens from patients with CIN Ⅰ- Ⅲand uterine cervical squamous carcinoma were evaluated for IDO expression by immunohistochemistry. Twenty normal cervical specimens and 20normal lymph node specimens were used as the controls. Results:The expression of IDO was not found in normal cervix and CIN Ⅰ. In CIN Ⅱ, IDO expres -sion was weakly positive in2 cases (2/10, 20%) and negative in8 cases (8/10, 80%). In CINⅢ, IDO expression was weak-ly positive in 8 cases (8/13, 61.5%), positive in1 case( 1/13, 7.7%) and negative in4 cases (4/13, 30.8%). The positive ex-pression rate of IDO in cervical cancer stage Ⅰ- Ⅳwas 100 % (83/83). In cervical cancer stage ⅠA and ⅠB, the positive ex-pression rate of IDO was significantly higher than that in CINⅡand CIN Ⅲ(P<0.01). The positive expression rate of IDO in cervical cancer stage ⅡA-ⅣB was significantly higher than that in ⅠA and ⅠB. IDO expression was associated with cervi -cal cancer progression ( OR=0.807 , P<0.01). IDO expression in primary lesions with lymph node metastasis was significant -ly higher than that in those without lymph node metastasis. IDO expression rate was 100 % in metastatic lymph nodes. The IDO expression was not associated with cervical squamous carcinoma differentiation degree ( OR=- 0.139 , P>0.05). Conclusion: In CIN Ⅱ, escape mechanisms that stimulate cervical squamous carcinoma progression is gradually developed. IDO expression in metastatic lymph nodes is possibly associated with immune tolerance. IDO expression is not associated with differentiation degree of cervical squamous carcinoma. IDO may be a prognostic factor for uterine cervical squamous carcinoma and a therapeutic target for treatment.