Relationship between MMP-9 and RECK expression in abnormal cervical smears and clinical evolution of squamous intraepithelial lesion

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the expression of MMP-9 and RECK proteins in cervical smears of women undergoing routine Pap test, comparing the expression of these markers with cytological abnormalities and infectious agents, and to compare these markers with the types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and E6 and E7 oncoproteins expression. In women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC- US) and squamous intraepithelial lesions of low grade (LSIL), the objective is to compare the expression of MMP-9 and RECK with the lesion evolution. Women undergoing the Pap test will be included in this study and those with Pap test showing ASC-US or LSIL will be monitored over 18 months, with cytological, colposcopic and histological examination every six months. During the speculum examination will be collected cervical samples for microbiological and molecular tests. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval will be calculated to measure the association between variables. The rates of progression and regression of cytological lesions over 18 months will be assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test, assuming a significance level of 5%.