The aim of this study was to determine annexin II expression in cervical cancer.

In Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, normal and cervical cancer tissues were obtained from healthy women (n=11), from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN, n=11) and from patients with cervical cancer (n=33). The expressions of annexin II mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative competitive-PCR and by western blot analysis. Annexin II mRNA and protein expressions were examined with repects to the clinical characteristics including tumor sizes and cancer stages.

The expression of annexin II mRNA in cervical cancer was higher than that in the normal cervix, and CIN (p<0.05). Annexin II mRNA expression was not correlated with cervical cancer stage, or size of the tumor (p>0.05). The expression of annexin II protein in cervical cancer was higher than that in CIN but its expression was decreased according to the cervical cancer stage.

Our results suggest that overexpression of annexin II mRNA and protein may be a biologic marker of cervical carcinogenesis.