Expression of nm23-H1 protein in relation to myometrial invasion in complete hydatidiform moles.
OBJECTIVE
Although nm23-H1 protein expression has been related to invasion in many cancers, its expression and prognostic significance in complete hydatidiform moles has not yet been investigated. The search for biologic parameters in molar placentas, which are useful for identifying patients who show myometrial invasion of the tumor, is crucial. We examined the clinical significance of nm23-H1 expression in complete hydatidiform mole.


METHODS
Sections of 105 cases of complete hydatidiform moles (including 25 cases of invasive mole) and 95 cases of gestational age--matched normal placentas were immunohistochemically stained with anti-nm23-H1 antibody, which recognizes the nm23-H1/NDP kinase A gene product.


RESULTS
Expression of nm23-H1 was detected in the cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts of molar placentas and normal placentas, whereas it was not detected in stromal tissue. Expression of nm23-H1 showed a negative relation to invasion, suggesting its use as a potential marker of myometrial invasion in complete hydatidiform moles.


CONCLUSIONS
nm23-H1 expression could be used as a marker for accurate evaluation of myometrial invasion in complete hydatidiform mole.
Alex
Swapna
S
Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala, India-695011.
Panikkar
Beena
B
Devi
Chandrika
C
Balaram
Prabha
P
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins