Heparanase expression in both normal endometrium and endometrial cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between heparanase expression and prognostic factors in endometrial cancer, as well as the relationship between heparanase expression during phases of the normal endometrial cycle. Immunohistochemical analysis of 166 endometrial cancers and 34 normal endometria in various phases of growth was performed. The heparanase expression in the late-proliferative phase of normal endometria was found to be significantly higher than in either the early-proliferative or the secretory phases (P= .012 and P= .044, respectively). Heparanase expression was also significantly higher in endometrial cancer patients with tumors of an advanced FIGO stage (P= .0003) and high FIGO grade (P= .004) and with cancers showing either deep myometrial invasion (P= .023), lymph node metastasis (P= .006), lymphvascular space involvement (P= .048), or positive peritoneal cytology (P= .010). The disease-free and overall survival rates of patients with intense heparanase expression were significantly lower than those of patients with absent or moderate heparanase expression (P= .004 and P= .002, respectively). Heparanase may participate in normal endometrial remodeling and can serve as an indicator of the aggressive potential and poor prognosis of endometrial cancers.     

Molecular genetic characterization of tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES: The non-steroidal, selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen is currently the most extensively used hormonal agent for the prevention and treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown an increased risk of endometrial cancer with tamoxifen exposure; however, few studies have examined these tumors on a molecular level. We sought to elucidate the molecular genetic alterations found in tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer. METHODS: Twenty-nine breast cancer patients with a history of tamoxifen use who subsequently developed endometrial cancer were retrospectively identified and matched for endometrial histologic subtype and grade to 29 endometrial cancers from breast cancer patients never exposed to tamoxifen. Endometrial tumor tissue was microdissected and genomic DNA extracted for each case. Direct DNA sequencing of the most commonly mutated genes in sporadic endometrial cancer, PTEN, K-RAS, TP53, and CTNNB1, was performed in addition to microsatellite instability (MI) studies. Fisher's Exact Test was utilized for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of 29 tamoxifen-associated cancers, 10 (34.5%) contained PTEN mutations compared to 13 (44.8%) of the non-tamoxifen-associated cancers (P = 0.59). All PTEN mutations were found in tumors with endometrioid histology, reflecting what is seen in sporadic endometrial cancers. Mutations of K-RAS, TP53, and microsatellite instability were present in similar frequencies between the two breast cancer groups, and moreover, these were similar to mutational frequencies found in sporadic endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen and non-tamoxifen-associated endometrial carcinomas arising in women with breast cancer contain similar genetic alterations to those of sporadic endometrial carcinomas.     

Prognostic significance of progesterone receptor immunohistochemistry for lymph node metastases in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), p53 protein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression constitute independent prognostic factors for lymph node metastases in endometrial carcinoma using immunohistochemical techniques on hysterectomy and biopsy specimens. METHODS: We evaluated the correlation between lymph node metastases and PR/ER immunohistochemistry, p53/PCNA expression, age, tumor grade, myometrial tumor invasion, cervical involvement, and ovarian metastases in a series of 99 cases of primary endometrial carcinoma surgically staged with systemic pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic lymph node biopsy. RESULTS: Lymph node metastases from endometrial carcinoma were statistically correlated with negative PR immunohistochemistry (P = 0.001), intense p53 expression (66% or more of the tumor cells stained, P = 0.003), deep myometrial tumor invasion (greater than one-half, P = 0.001), and cervical involvement (P = 0.001). Tumor grade showed borderline statistical significance for lymph node metastases (P = 0.058). On multivariate analysis, negative PR, intense p53 expression, and cervical involvement were significant prognostic variables for lymph node metastases (P = 0.0001, 0.0023, and 0.002, respectively). Immunohistochemical study indicated that the PR status on preoperative biopsy specimens and hysterectomy specimens was in good agreement, but p53 status was not. Age, ovarian metastases, ER immunohistochemistry, and PCNA expression were not significantly related to lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: PR immunohistochemistry appeared to be the most powerful prognostic factor associated with lymph node metastases in endometrial carcinoma, independent of other clinicopathological parameters.     

Correlation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and aromatase expression in human endometrial cancer: tissue microarray analysis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), aromatase, and hormone receptor immunohistochemical (IHC) expression to well defined clinical-pathologic prognostic factors in a large group of surgically staged endometrial cancer patients. STUDY DESIGN: A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed from 336 separate specimens of endometrial cancer. IHC was performed for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor, COX-2, COX-1, and aromatase. RESULTS: The majority of tumors expressed COX-2 (59%) and aromatase (65%). COX-2 staining significantly correlated with aromatase expression ( P < .014) but did not correlate with ER and PR. COX-2 expression was correlated with worsening histologic grade ( P < .026) and approached statistical significance for deep myometrial invasion ( P < .055). After applying multivariate analysis, no single IHC or combination of IHCs correlated with intrauterine poor prognostic factors or advanced stage. Only myometrial invasion >50% (OR 6.98, P < .001) and nonendometrioid histology (OR 4.933, P < .001) were predictive of advanced stage after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: COX-2 and aromatase are expressed in the majority of endometrial cancer patients. COX-2 expression was not associated with the great majority of surgical-pathologic prognostic factors. COX-2 expression did significantly correlate with aromatase expression, suggesting that intratumoral production of estrogen in endometrial cancer may be an important mechanism in tumorigenesis.     

Tamoxifen-induced endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: Tamoxifen-induced endometrial changes in postmenopausal women with breast carcinoma are well-known. Due to the popularity of postoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer, chemotherapy-induced early menopause in women with breast cancer on tamoxifen treatment needs more attention, because these women have higher risk for endometrial cancers than premenopausal women. SUBJECT: From May 1995 to May 1997, three premenopausal women aged 46, 43, and 39 with breast cancer were treated in our center. All patients received standard surgery for their breast cancers followed by six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy and 5-year tamoxifen treatment. All patients were regularly followed-up at the Breast Cancer Center and evaluated annually at the gynecological clinics including pelvic examination, Pap smear and transvaginal sonography. RESULTS: All patients became menopausal after six courses of chemotherapy ranging from three months to 14 months. The endometrial cancers occurred at 36 months, 28 months, and 33 months, respectively, after initial treatment for the breast cancers. Their last gynecologic examinations performed at six months, eight months and five months before the diagnosis of endometrial cancer showed nothing remarkable. Only one patient complained of vaginal spotting before diagnosis and the other two patients only complained of increasing purulent vaginal discharge. All patients received standard treatment for endometrial cancer and none of them died of their disease but one patient died of recurrent breast cancer 52 months later. CONCLUSION: Women with breast cancer on tamoxifen treatment need more attention and frequent evaluation of their reproductive organs, especially postmenopausal (either spontaneous or chemotherapy induced) women, although the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) comments that no more than annual pelvic exams with Pap smears are needed in asymptomatic women.     

子宫内膜癌分子标志物与临床病理特征关系的研究

目的探讨子宫内膜癌中ER、PR、PTEN、p53及Ki-67的表达与临床、病理特征的关系。方法收集200例原发性子宫内膜癌患者的临床病理资料,对其ER、PR、PTEN、p53及Ki-67表达情况进行统计学分析。结果①子宫内膜癌病例中．ER、PR、PTEN、p53的阳性表达率分别为86．5％、85．5％、82．10和49．2％;Ki-67在癌灶中的阳性表达率为4％--95％,平均为46．9％。②妊娠次数与PR阳性表达呈负相关（r=-0．191,P=0．007）,而发病年龄、分娩次数与p53阳性表达呈正相关（r=0．184,P=0．041;r=0．255,P=0．004）。③子宫内膜样腺癌ER、PR、p53阳性率与其他类型子宫内膜癌比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0,01）。④ER阳性表达与手术病理分期呈负相关（r=-0．155,P=0．028）,其中I期患者ER阳性率高于Ⅱ期及以上患者（P=0．032）。⑤ER、PR阳性表达与组织学分级呈负相关（r=-0．217,P=0．002;r=-0．317,P=0．000）,但p53、Ki-67表达与其呈正相关（r=0．327,P=0．000;r=0．465,P=0．000）。⑥ER阳性表达与肌层浸润深度呈负相关（r=-0．142,P=0．046）,在有无深肌层浸润上ER、PR表达率均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论对子宫内膜活检组织进行分子标志物的分子特征检测,有助于指导临床。     

The risk of endometrial cancer in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. A prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of endometrial cancer in women who carry a deleterious mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women known to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, aged 45 to 70, were identified from an international registry and were followed prospectively. A total of 857 women completed a baseline questionnaire and one or more follow-up questionnaires. Study subjects were followed until diagnosis of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, death or the date of completion of the last questionnaire. The expected number of endometrial cancers was calculated using age and country-specific incidence rates. RESULTS: After an average follow-up period of 3.3 years, six women were diagnosed with endometrial cancer, compared to 1.13 cancers expected (SIR=5.3, p=0.0011). Four of these six patients used tamoxifen in the past. The risk among women who were never exposed to tamoxifen treatment was not significantly elevated (SIR=2.7, p=0.17), but among the 226 participants who had used tamoxifen (220 as treatment and six for the primary prevention of breast cancer) the relative risk for endometrial cancer was 11.6 (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION: The main contributor to the increased risk of endometrial cancer among BRCA carriers is tamoxifen treatment for a previous breast cancer. The risk and benefits of prophylactic hysterectomy should be discussed with women with a BRCA mutation considering tamoxifen therapy.     

绝经后乳腺癌患者服用他莫昔芬发生子宫内膜息肉危险因素的探讨

目的:探讨绝经后因乳腺癌服用他莫昔芬(TAM)与子宫内膜息肉发生的相关性。方法:随诊了46例绝经后服用TAM超过6个月的妇女,其中22例经宫腔镜手术及内膜病理证实为内膜息肉(A组),24例宫腔镜检查未发现息肉(B组)。比较2组服用TAM的时间、剂量,经阴道超声波(TVS)检查的结果,并分析与子宫内膜癌相关的危险因素。结果:息肉组妇女的体重明显重于非息肉组(P=0.013),且比非息肉组服用TAM的时间长,TAM的累计剂量增加(P值均为0.002)。经阴道超声波检查示息肉组子宫内膜增厚或者宫内异常回声的发生率明显高于非息肉组(P=0.019)。结论:肥胖,长期服用TAM超过2年或累计剂量超过15g是绝经后妇女服用TAM发生子宫内膜息肉的高危因素。TVS提示内膜增厚或者宫内异常回声有诊断价值,可作为预测内膜息肉发生的指标。     

子宫内膜癌雄激素受体表达及临床意义

目的:探讨子宫内膜癌组织中的雄激素受体(AR)的表达及其与临床病理特征和雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)表达的关系。方法:应用免疫组织化学SP法检测41例正常子宫内膜、18例不典型增生及116例子宫内膜癌组织中AR、ER、PR的表达。结果:①子宫内膜细胞普遍存在AR的表达,在正常子宫内膜、不典型增生子宫内膜、子宫内膜癌组织中阳性表达率逐渐增高,但差异无统计学意义(P=0.424)。②AR在子宫内膜癌中的表达随患者FIGO分期、组织病理分级的升高而下降(P=0.011;P=0.047),而与患者发病年龄、是否绝经、组织学类型、淋巴结有无转移、肌层有无浸润无明显关系(P>0.05)。③AR的表达与ER、PR的表达呈正相关(r=0.293,P=0.001;r=0.275,P=0.003)。结论:AR在子宫内膜癌的发生、发展中可能起重要作用,AR阳性表达者的生物学行为较好。     

细胞周期调控相关蛋白P53、P16、P21、Rb在子宫内膜癌的表达与意义

目的 :研究与细胞周期G1→S调控点相关的P5 3、P16、P2 1、Rb蛋白在子宫内膜癌的表达及其相关情况 ,探讨其临床应用价值。方法 :采用免疫组化 (LSAB法 )检测上述指标在 2 1例正常子宫内膜、15例子宫内膜上皮内瘤样病变 (EIN)及 4 5例子宫内膜癌中的表达。结果 :P5 3蛋白表达由正常内膜、EIN至内膜癌逐渐升高 ,而P16、P2 1、Rb蛋白结果相反 ;在子宫内膜癌中 ,P5 2和P2 1呈负相关 (r =- 0 .32 2 ) ,P16、P2 1与Rb呈正相关 (r=0 .36 1;r =0 .4 41)。P2 1蛋白表达与良好病理学分级有关 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,P5 3蛋白表达与临床各参数有关 ,与ER、PR的表达呈负相关 ,单因素及多因素分析均提示P5 3蛋白表达阳性的子宫内膜癌患者预后差 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :与细胞周期G1→S调控相关的P5 3、P16、P2 1、Rb蛋白均参与子宫内膜癌发生、发展 ,且部分基因相互关联 ,P5 3可作为独立预后因素应用于临床 ,其阳性表达提示预后不良     

Gene expression profiling in human endometrial cancer tissue samples: utility and diagnostic value

OBJECTIVE: Recently, gene expression profiling techniques have been used on several human cancers to classify tumor subgroups with a specific biological behavior, which were previously undetected by the conventional histopathologic staging systems. In the current study, the clinical usefulness and prognostic value of gene expression profiling in human endometrial carcinomas were studied. METHODS: A macro cDNA array, containing cDNAs of 588 genes selected from different areas of cancer research, was used to generate gene expression profiles of tumor tissue samples. The gene expression profiles of 12 endometrial cancers, 3 benign (e.g. noncancer) endometrial tissue samples and 3 myometrial tissue samples, taken from human surgical specimen, were compared. RESULTS: The efficacy to generate a gene expression profile of these tissue samples was 77%. The RNA samples could be randomly taken from the tissue samples and were highly reproducible. Cluster analysis of gene expression profiles of the different samples showed that the benign endometrial and the myometrial samples clustered separately from the tumor samples, indicating that the gene expression profiles were tissue specific and not patient specific. Cluster analysis of the tumor samples revealed two distinct tumor clusters. Ranking of the tumors in the two clusters showed high similarity with the histopathologic classification [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grading]. CONCLUSION: Classification of endometrial tumors on basis of their gene expression profiles showed similarity with the FIGO grading system.     

Angiogenesis-prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer

Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most commonly found cancers. In numerous kinds of cancers, tumor microvessel density correlates with clinical stage of disease and is considered as an independent prognostic factor. Evaluation of angiogenesis intensity in endometrial cancer also seems to be an independent prognostic factor and statistically correlates with FIGO stage of disease, histological type and grade of tumor, depth of myometrial invasion and metastasis. Activity of angiogenic factors in human tissues and serum provides additional reference concerning the growth and progression of endometrial cancer.     

Recurrent endometrial polyps in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on tamoxifen

OBJECTIVES: Endometrial polyps are the most common endometrial pathology described in association with postmenopausal tamoxifen exposure, with an incidence of up to 10.7% of malignancy. Some women tend to develop recurrent polyps. However, no one has yet described any risk factors for the development of recurrent endometrial polyps in postmenopausal breast cancer tamoxifen-treated patients. METHODS: We compared various clinical features of 64 postmenopausal breast cancer tamoxifen-treated patients with a primary endometrial polyp (Group I), with those of 27 similar patients with recurrent polyps (Group 2). RESULTS: Previous exposure to hormone replacement therapy was significantly more common and duration of tamoxifen treatment, up to the diagnosis of primary endometrial polyp, was significantly shorter in Group II patients (P = 0.0217 and P = 0.0148, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the combination of shorter tamoxifen exposure before the diagnosis of primary polyp, lower parity, lower menopausal age at the diagnosis of primary polyp, and higher years of tamoxifen treatment was found to increase significantly the risk of developing recurrent endometrial polyps. Any additional year of tamoxifen treatment may increase by fivefold the risk of developing recurrent polyps. There was no significant difference in ultrasonographic endometrial thickness measured before resection of the primary polyps in both groups and before the resection of recurrent polyps in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Previous use of HRT, shorter duration of tamoxifen exposure, and additional years of tamoxifen treatment may significantly increase the risk of developing recurrent endometrial polyps in postmenopausal breast cancer tamoxifen-treated patients.     

Favorable survival associated with microsatellite instability in endometrioid endometrial cancers

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether microsatellite instability in endometrioid endometrial cancer is associated with favorable survival. METHODS: Microsatellite instability analysis was performed in 131 patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer using three polymorphic markers in paired cancer and normal DNA. Logistic regression and multivariable analyses calculated the relation between microsatellite instability, clinical features, and survival. RESULTS: Microsatellite instability was detected in 29 of 131 (22%) endometrioid endometrial cancers. There was no correlation between microsatellite instability and age, race, grade, stage, or depth of myometrial invasion. Microsatellite instability was associated with better survival in univariate and multivariable analyses after controlling for confounding influences (P =.03). The 5-year survival rate of those with microsatellite instability was 77% (95% confidence interval 55%, 90%) compared with only 48% (95% confidence interval 39%, 57%) in other cases. Microsatellite instability was associated with other molecular features that predict favorable outcome including PTEN mutation (P =.002) and the absence of p53 overexpression (P =.01). CONCLUSION: Microsatellite instability is a molecular alteration associated with favorable outcome in endometrioid endometrial cancers, even when accounting for other prognostic factors. This association might be explained by the finding that the pathway of molecular carcinogenesis characterized by loss of DNA mismatch repair favors alteration of genes that result in a less virulent clinical phenotype.     

Loss of basement membrane heparan sulfate expression is associated with tumor progression in endometrial cancer

Perlecan is a major heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HPSG) of the basement membrane (BM) and binds to various cytokines and growth factors via its heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan (HS-GAG) chains. The aim of this study was to investigate BM HS-GAG expression in endometrial cancers. We investigated the expression of BM HS-GAG by immunohistochemistry in 109 endometrial cancers and analyzed correlations with various clinicopathological features. The HS-GAG expression index was significantly lower in cases of advanced stage, high-grade, deep myometrial invasion, positive peritoneal cytology, lymph vascular space invasion and lymph node metastasis. There was no association between HS-GAG expression status and patient outcome. Decreased HS-GAG expression of BM is associated with tumor progression, but is not be a useful prognostic factor in patients presenting with endometrial cancer.     

不同雌激素受体表达状态的子宫内膜癌细胞中转录因子的活性分析

目的 分析并比较不同雌激素受体(ER)表达状态的子宫内膜癌细胞中转录因子的活 性.方法 采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术检测子宫内膜癌细胞系RL-952[Erα、Erβ表达均阳性(+)]、HEC-1A[Erα表达弱阳性(±)、Erβ表达阴性(-)]、HEC-1B[Erα、Erβ表达均(-)]细胞中Erα mRNA的表达.采用345通量转录因子芯片检测RL-952、HEC-1A、HEC-1B细胞中转录因子的活性,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测不同转录活性的转录因子NFkKBp65、p38MAPK以验证芯片检测结果.结果 Erα mRNA在RL-952、HEC-1A、HEC-1B细胞中表达水平依次递减,分别为(6780±282)、(684±84)、(168±38)copy/ng.转录因子NFkBp65、p38MAPK的转录活性采用ELISA方法检测(分别为2.0±0.4、0.9±0.5,P=0.020)与芯片检测(分别为3003±530、882±538,P:0.017)结果一致.在345个转录因子中,筛选出与ER功能相关的差异表达的转录因子共28个,与ER(+)的RL-952细胞相比,ER(-)的HEC-1A、HEC-1B细胞中转录因子活性同时上调的有13种,同时下调的有15种.转录因子TTF(1)-1、NRF-1、TCE的活性与Erα mRNA表达水平呈明显线性正相关关系(r=0.523,P=0.037),而转录因子RFX123和Ikaros的活性与Erα mRNA表达水平呈明显非线性负相关关系(r=-0.312,P=0.041).结论转录因子芯片检测是筛选子宫内膜癌致病机制中主要转录因子的先进技术.转录因子TTF(1)-1、NRF-1、TCE可能与ER(+)子宫内膜癌中的信号传导通路相关;转录因子RFX123和Ikams可能与ER(-)子宫内膜癌中的信号传导通路相关.