Table 3.

Comparison of nuclear maspin expression in different study groups

Compared group A and B		Sample size		Mean rank of two groups		Significance level
		n A	n B	RA	RB
1	−2 a	13	15	81.57	90.36
1	−3	13	15	81.57	63.60
1	−4	13	47	81.57	35.25	*
1	−5	13	13	81.57	25.30	*
2	−3	15	15	90.36	63.60	*
2	−4	15	47	90.36	35.25	*
2	−5	15	13	90.36	25.30	*
3	−4	15	47	63.60	35.25	*
3	−5	15	13	63.60	25.30	*
4	−5	47	13	35.25	25.30

Comparison of nuclear maspin expression between any two groups using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test discovered nuclear maspin expression of CIN3 was little up-regulated than normal cervix and then declined in SCC stage Ib. SCC stage II nuclear maspin was obviously weaker than SCC stage Ib but showed no statistical significance with tumor emboli in lymph nodes

* indicates P < 0.05

^aStudy groups: 1, normal cervix; 2, CIN3; 3, SCC stage Ib; 4, SCC stage II; 5, tumor emboli in lymph nodes