Longstanding survival without cancer progression in a patient affected by endometrial carcinoma treated primarily with leuprolide.

Abstract

We report here a case of a patient affected by endometrial cancer and treated primarily with leuprolide, the surgical approach being unfeasible due to her compromised conditions. The therapy was continued for more than 6 years, and no progression of the disease was observed. During this period, some histological and immunohistochemical evaluations of the tumour (morphology, grading, proliferation and apoptotic index, E-cadherin expression) were performed. Furthermore, the expression of m-RNA for luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) receptors was determined. The results showed a discrepancy between some biological parameters of the tumour and its clinical characteristics. In fact, despite features suggestive of a progression of the cancer (such as the increase of both tumour grading and proliferating capacity (MIB-1), and a fall in the reparative process (appearance of mutated p53, reduced expression of both bcl-2 and c-erb-2) being detected, neither local invasion nor metastatic lesions were clinically observed. This discrepancy might be due to the maintenance of high levels of E-cadhezin. Moreover, since this tumour was shown to express mRNA for LHRH receptors, new evidence is provided about the favourable impact of LHRH analogue treatment in patients affected by endometrial cancer.

• Authors: I Noci, P Borri, G Bonfirraro, O Chieffi, A Arcangeli, A Cherubini, S Dabizzi, A M Buccoliero, M Paglierani, G L Taddei
• Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer) Vol. 85 Issue 3 Pg. 333-6 (Aug 03 2001) ISSN: 0007-0920 [Print] England
• PMID: 11487260 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Neoplasm Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, LHRH
• Leuprolide

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Disease Progression
• Disease-Free Survival
• Endometrial Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Leuprolide (therapeutic use)
• Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, LHRH (genetics)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction