Valence of immunohistochemical analysis of endometrial carcinoma biopsy specimen

OBJECTIVE: We compared immunohistological examination of endometrium biopsy specimen with the results of the immunohistological examination of tumor specimen to analyse the valence of this preoperative examination according to the clinico-pathological findings and overall-survival. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1985 and 1995 193 women were treated of an endometrial carcinoma at the University hospital Mainz. In this group we evaluated 41 patients with enough preoperative endometrial biopsy material for a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis and complete follow-up data. The materials from diagnostic curettage were stained and analysed for oestrogen and progesterone receptor status and for MiB-1. The results were statistically analysed using Logrank-test for overall survival. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 49 months. We found a significant correlation between staining results of oestrogen (p-value = 0.0005) and progesterone (p-value=0.0003) receptor status with overall survival as well as for MiB-1 (p-value=0.05). The correlation of staining results between biopsy specimen results and tumor material from hysterectomy was 84-85 %. CONCLUSION: These well known prognostic factors are measurable on biopsy specimen material in same quality and high valence as on hysterectomy material.