Altered expression of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is observed in various types of cancers. However, little research has been reported regarding the correlation between the expression of Cav-1 and cervical cancer. Here, we investigated the clinical significance of Cav-1 expression using quantum dot (QD)-based immunofluorescence staining in cervical cancer and its correlation with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization. Our results showed that the positive rates of Cav-1 protein in normal cervical mucosa, CIN, cervical adenocarcinoma and SCC were: 0, 33, 19 and 55%, respectively. The differences in Cav-1 protein expression in cervical SCC compared to the other three groups were all statistically significant. Absence of stromal Cav-1 protein in 58 cases of cervical SCC was 67%. The positive rates of the Cav-1 protein in tumour and stromal cells of cervical SCC were not correlated with clinicopathological parameters. In the cervical SCC tissues, Cav-1 expression in tumour cells was not associated with stromal Cav-1 expression, but a positive correlation existed with the PCNA protein and high-risk of HPV infection. The results presented here suggest that expression of Cav-1 in the tumour cells, rather than in the stromal tissue surrounding the tumour, may promote cervical SCC cell proliferation, and correlates with high-risk HPV infection.

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