Endothelin converting enzyme-1 expression in endometrial adenocarcinomas.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent mitogen in various precursor tumor cells, including endometrial adenocarcinoma. It is proposed that ET-1 produced by endometrial adenocarcinoma may participate in the angiogenesis of this carcinoma in vivo. Endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) is the key enzyme that synthesizes ET-1. In this study, we tried to demonstrate the expression of ECE-1 in endometrial carcinomas. Deparaffinized tissue sections from patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the presence of ECE-1. Our study showed that the expression of ECE-1 was markedly increased in 9 of 15 (60%) well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas; in contrast, only 2 out of 10 (20%) control specimens showed a mild labeling. With new selective inhibitory molecules emerging, research is currently evaluating the possible inhibition of ECE-1 as an alternative approach for the treatment of endometrial as well as other carcinomas.
Arun
B
B
Simmons Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, USA. barun@mdanderson.org
Kilic
G
G
Ashfaq
R
R
Saboorian
H M
HM
Gokaslan
T
T
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D008875:Middle Aged
D019332:Endothelin-1; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C000606923:ECE1 protein, human; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes