Low P16(INK4A) Expression Associated with High Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Markers Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer after Radiotherapy

Previous studies have suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) resisted radiotherapy and chemotherapy. P16(INK4A) is a biomarker for cervical carcinogenesis and reduces proliferation of stem cells. We aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (P16(INK4A)), sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), and Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A1 (ALDH1A1) in cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy and cervical cell line models. The expressions of P16(INK4A), SOX2, and ALDH1A1 were performed by immunohistochemical staining of tumor samples from 139 cervical cancer patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages Ib to IV. The staining showed high expression in 100, 107, and 13 patients with P16(INK4A) (>80%), SOX2 (≥10%), and ALDH1A1 (50%), respectively. The high-P16(INK4A) group had a higher five-year overall survival (OS) rate and disease-free survival (DFS) than the low-P16(INK4A) group (OS: 62.0% and 35.2%, p = 0.016; DFS: 60.0% and 31.2%, p = 0.002). The low-P16(INK4A)/high-SOX2 and low-P16(INK4A)/high-ALDH1A1 groups had a worse five-year OS and DFS rate than the high-P16(INK4A)/low-SOX2 and high-P16(INK4A)/low-ALDH1A1 groups, respectively. Depletion of P16(INK4A) promoted chemoresistance and radioresistance of cervical cancer cells increased the expression of SOX2 and ALDH1A1 and exhibited higher self-renewal ability. These results suggest that lower P16(INK4A) expression associated with higher CSC markers predicts poor prognostic outcomes and is a promising target in patients with cervical cancer.