Expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes in benign versus malignant human uterine tissue.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes in benign human uterine tissue compared with malignant uterine tissue.


METHODS
Forty-two endometrial tissue specimens were obtained at the time of hysterectomy. Tissue samples from different phases of the menstrual cycle and from postmenopausal patients were stained using immunohistochemical methods to detect Fos and Jun proteins, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and Ki67 (detects a nuclear antigen associated with proliferating cells). Tissue was examined microscopically for nuclear staining in endometrial epithelium and stroma. The endometrium was based on the patient's last menstrual period, pathologic dating, and proliferative versus nonproliferative status as determined by Ki67. Benign and malignant specimens were subjected to Northern blot analysis to evaluate levels of expression of c-fos, c-jun, and jun-B mRNA. The pattern of c-fos mRNA expression in malignant samples was further evaluated using in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
In proliferative, secretory, postmenopausal, and progesterone-influenced, uterine specimens immunohistochemically stained and examined, the endometrial and stromal nuclei stained for both Fos and Jun in varying intensities. However, no pattern was found in the variation of intensity according to the phase of the endometrium. Similarly, in malignant and benign endometrial tissue examined by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses, expression of proto-oncogene mRNAs was readily detectable, but no statistical correlation between type of tissue examined, grade of adenocarcinoma, and stage of endometrial cancer was found in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
In rodent models, control of uterine cell proliferation is related to change in expression of fos and jun proto-oncogenes. Our results indicate that hormonal control is likely to be different in human endometrium and probably involves genes other than the proto-oncogenes under study. Expression of Fos and Jun do not correlate with endometrial cancer stage and grade.
Nephew
K P
KP
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA.
Choi
C M
CM
Polek
T C
TC
McBride
R
R
Bigsby
R M
RM
Khan
S A
SA
Husseinzadeh
N
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016759:Oncogene Protein p65(gag-jun) / Q000378:metabolism*; D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D016759:Oncogene Protein p65(gag-jun); D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger