P53 expression in spontaneous and estradiol-induced endometrial hyperplasia during menopause

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression in both spontaneously occurring cases or following the use of unopposed estradiol. METHODS: Fifty-four postmenopausal patients with endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed by endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy were recruited to this study. Thirty-three patients had used unopposed estradiol for periods of time from 1 to 3 years. P53 expression was detected in paraffin-embedded endometrial specimens by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression was significantly greater in spontaneously occurring hyperplasia than in cases induced by the unopposed use of estradiol. CONCLUSION: Endometrial hyperplasia caused by the unopposed use of estradiol during menopause probably harbors fewer genomic errors than those cases occurring spontaneously.