Identification of differentially expressed proteins and clinicopathological significance of HMGB2 in cervical cancer

To investigate the complexity of proteomics in cervical cancer tissues, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based mass spectrometry analysis on a panel of normal cervical tissues (N), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion tissues (HSIL) and cervical cancer tissues (CC). Total 72 differentially expressed proteins were identified both in CC vs N and CC vs HSIL. The expression of HMGB2 was markedly higher in CC than that in HSIL and N. High HMGB2 expression was significantly correlated with primary tumor size, invasion and tumor stage. The up-regulated HMGB2 was discovered to be associated with human cervical cancer. These findings suggest that HMGB2 may be a potentially prognostic biomarker and a target for the therapy of cervical cancer.

Automated summary

Using iTRAQ-based mass spectrometry analysis, HMGB2 was found to be significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion tissues and normal cervical tissues. High HMGB2 expression was associated with primary tumor size, invasion, and tumor stage, suggesting HMGB2 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cervical cancer.