抄録
To elucidate the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the uterine cervix and cervical cancer, we examined the immunohistochemical distribution of copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) in the human uterine cervix and cervical cancer. In the squamous epithelium, the basal, and the superficial, layers showed no or weak SOD imunoreactivity. In comparison, the prickle cell layer showed moderate immunoreactivity. In the columnar epithelium and cervical gland, ciliated cells showed moderate SOD immunoreactivity, whereas secretory cells showed no or weak reactivity. Subcolumnar reserve cells showed marked SOD immunoreactivity. These staining patterns were found to be constant throughout the menstrual cycle. In the carcinoma in situ, strong SOD immunoreactivity was seen in the cancer cells. In the invasive non-keratinizing and keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, moderate immunoreactivity was seen. In the invasive adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix, marked immunoreactivity was seen in the well differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. On the other hand, no or weak immunoreactivity was seen in the moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. Collectively, these results suggest that CuZn-SOD in uterine cervix might play an important role in the local defence mechanism against oxygen radicals and in the differentiation activity or reserve cells. Marked variability in CuZu-SOD immunoreactivity with various types of cervical cancers may reflect differences in cell proliferation kinetics. In the present survey of malignant tumors, we see no obvious relationship between generally assumed resistance to radiation or radical producing drugs and cellular immunoreactivity of CuZu-SOD. Futher studies are required to determine the value of CuZu-SOD analysis of tumors for the prediction of the response to radiation and redicalproducing drugs.
