Immunohistochemical tumour markers in endometrial carcinoma
Ioachin, E.
European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 26(4): 363-371
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-2936 PMID: 16122180 Document Number: 591985
Endometrial adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female genital tract and, despite its relative frequency, the molecular events that contribute to the development and progression of the lesion remain poorly understood. The normal human endometrium is characterizel by hormone-dependent variations during the menstrual cycle. This tightly controlled system is disturbed in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinomas and a series of changes initiate and promote progression towards the malignant phenotype. These changes can be subdivided into discrete steps, involving activation of oncogenes, inactivation of tumour suppressor genes, deregulation of cell cycle regulators or other proteins involved in tumour invasion and progression. Immunohistochemical expression of different biomarkers such as hormone receptor status (ER, PR), proliferation associated indices (PCNA, MIB1), oncogene (c-erbB-2), tumour suppressor gene products (pRb, p53 protein), cell cycle related proteins (cyclin D1, cyclin E, p21/WAF1), anti-apoptotic protein (bcl-2), adhesion molecule (CD44s), proteolytic enzyme (cathepsin D), heat shock protein (hsp27) and metallothionein (MT) has shown the contribution of these molecules to endometrial carcinogenesis in a hormone-dependent or independent manner as an early or late event. In addition, these biomarkers seem to be correlated with tumour differentiation or myometrial invasion, and therefore could be considered as indicators of the biological behaviour of endomertial carcinoma. Furthermore, the interrelationships of these molecular markers show that these genetic dysregulations could be implicated in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, and thereby in the multistep process of endometrial carcinogenesis.