High expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 as a predictor of poor prognosis for cervical cancer patient response to radiotherapy.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to explore the associations of Kruppel-like factor 4 expression with sensitivity to radiation therapy in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients.

METHODS

The records of 117 locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients were retrospectively reviewed, and Kruppel-like factor 4 expression in cervical carcinoma tissues was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The associations of Kruppel-like factor 4 expression with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Survival time was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Patients being resistant to radiation therapy were associated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, tumor diameter (>4 cm), and poor differentiation grade. The high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression level was significantly related to resistance to radiation therapy, including radiation therapy non-response, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. The high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression level was also significantly related to the advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and poor differentiation grade. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicates that locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression showed worse progression-free survival and overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analyses suggest that the high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression was one of the high-risk factors associated with poor prognosis in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients after radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression can be used as a novel biomarker to predict radiation therapy resistance and poor prognosis for locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.