RESUMEN
Objectives: To assess the role of cyclooxygenase-2, aromatase enzyme, E-Cadherin and angiogenin in endometrial carcinoma and their correlatlons
Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 60 women: 20 women with endometrial carcinoma, 20 women with endometrial hyperplasia and 20 women with normal endometrium. All cases were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, estimation of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA, aromatase, E-Cadherin, angiogenin levels
Results: The levels of cyclooxygenase mRNA and aromatase in biopsies of endomeuial carcinoma and serum angiogenin levels were found to be significantly higher than in endometIial hyperplasia and controls. However, serum levels of E-Cadherin were found to be significantly lower in patients with endometrial carcinoma and hyperplasia than in controls
Conclusion: In the present study a role for cyclooxygenase-2 [Cox-2] in the development and progression of endometrial carcinoma has been identified. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 correlated positively with tumor proliferation and tumor angiogenesis as evidenced by positive correlation found between Cox mRNA and angiogenin [ANG] in endometrial cancer. Results demonstrated that angiogenin contributed to tumor aggressiveness and metastatic potential in endometrial carcinoma. Aromatase levels in endometrial tissue tended to increase in step with stage of disease and cell differentiation decline and served as an indicator of malignant transformation. In addition, decreased E-Cadherin levels were associated with an elevated rate of metastasis and increased tumor invasiveness which suggested a potential clinical role for E-Cadherin as a molecular marker of endometrial cancer severity. These findings seem to be consistent with the concept that the dissociation of cancer cells due to decreased expression of E-Cadherin facilitates invasion of tumor cells