Activation of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase EphB4 in endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma.
Ann Oncol
; 14(2): 220-6, 2003 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12562648
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Members of the Eph family of tyrosine kinases have been implicated in embryonic pattern formation and vascular development; however, little is known about their role in the adult organism. We have observed estrogen-dependent EphB4 expression in the normal breast suggesting its implication in the hormone-controlled homeostasis of this organ. Since the endometrium is a similarly hormone dependent organ and endometrial carcinoma is thought to result from estrogenic stimulation, we have investigated EphB4 expression in normal human endometrium and during its carcinogenesis. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
EphB4 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically in 26 normal endometrium specimens, 15 hyperplasias and 102 endometrioid adenocarcinomas and correlated with clinical and prognostic tumor characteristics.RESULTS:
In normal endometrial tissue no EphB4 protein was detected. Strikingly, we observed a drastic increase (P <0.0001) in the number of EphB4 protein-expressing glandular epithelial cells in the majority of hyperplasias and carcinomas. Moreover, we found a statistically highly significant positive correlation between EphB4 expression and post-menopausal stage of the patient (P = 0.007).CONCLUSIONS:
These findings indicate that in the endometrium, EphB4 is an early indicator of malignant development and, thus, EphB4 may represent a potent tool for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Carcinoma
/
Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica
/
Neoplasias do Endométrio
/
Receptor EphB4
/
Hiperplasia Endometrial
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Oncol
Ano de publicação:
2003
Tipo de documento:
Article