Some growth factors may promote tumor growth by affecting tumor angiogenesis. Midkine(MK) are polypeptides that belong to a new family of heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor and has also been reported to be angiogenic. In various tumor tissues, MK was highly expressed between tumor and normal tissues; however, the pattern of MK expression in normal cervix and cervical cancer has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine the MK mRNA expression in cervical cancer. And we questioned whether its expression is related to cancer stages and prognostic factors.

The cervical and cervical cancer tissues were taken from patients; healthy women(n=15), and the patients with cervical cancer(n=29). The MK mRNA expression was examined by quantative competitive PCR after polymerase chain reaction amplification of reverse transcriptase copies of RNA transcripts(RT-PCR).

The cervical cancer expressed higher levels of MK mRNA than normal cervix(p<0.05). The MK mRNA expression was not correlated with the cervical cancer stage and histopathologic type(p>0.05).

These results suggested that increased MK mRNA expression is associated with the development of cervical cancer.