Immunohistochemical expression of cyclin E in endometrial adenocarcinoma (endometrioid type) and its clinicopathological significance.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Cyclin E is known as a G1-S phase regulatory protein and its abnormal expression has been implicated in cellular proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of cyclin E expression with tumorigenesis of the endometrium, proliferative activity, and clinicopathological features of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemical staining for cyclin E in addition to cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2), Ki67, p27, and p53 was performed by the labeled streptavidin-biotin method on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of normal endometria (20 cases), endometrial hyperplasias (20 cases), and endometrial adenocarcinomas (endometrioid type) (127 cases). Positive staining was expressed as a labeling index (LI) based on percentages of positive nuclei in tumor cells.

RESULTS:

Immunohistochemistry showed that the nuclei of the cells were positive for cyclin E. Both proliferative and secretory endometria, and endometrial hyperplasia regardless of type were negligible for cyclin E expression. The expression in normal endometrium and hyperplasia was significantly less than that in endometrial adenocarcinomas (P<0.0001). LIs of cyclin E in well-differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas were 31.5+/-33.3%, 37.8+/-31.9%, and 51.1+/-30.8%, respectively. Cyclin E expression increased significantly more in histological grades. The LI of cyclin E in carcinoma was positively correlated with that of cdk2, Ki67, and p53 but not with p27. The cyclin E expression was correlated with myometrial invasion and lymph-vascular space involvement, but not with FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, coexisting endometrial hyperplasia, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and menopause.

CONCLUSION:

Cyclin E as a complex with cdk2 is associated with carcinogenesis and disease progression in endometrial adenocarcinoma, and might be a prognostic indicator of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

• Authors: N Kato, J Watanabe, T Jobo, Y Nishimura, T Fujisawa, Y Kamata, H Kuramoto
• Journal: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology (J Cancer Res Clin Oncol) Vol. 129 Issue 4 Pg. 222-6 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0171-5216 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12684894 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cyclin E
• Microfilament Proteins
• Muscle Proteins
• Tagln protein, mouse
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (chemistry, pathology)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cyclin E (analysis)
• Endometrial Neoplasms (chemistry, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Microfilament Proteins (analysis)
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Proteins
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (analysis)