title: Possible involvement of hMLH1, p16(INK4a) and PTEN in the malignant transformation of endometriosis.
abstract: Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease, which generally follows a benign course. Notwithstanding, several clinical and histologic studies as well as molecular data show that endometriosis could be a precursor of sporadic endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas at extrauterine loci. Several reports have implicated alterations of the hMLH1 and p16(ink4a) (p16) genes, in particular hypermethylation of the promoter region, and of the PTEN gene, principally genetic mutations, in endometrial and ovarian cancers and have indicated that these alterations are already present in precancer conditions. In this report, we analyzed the methylation status of hMLH1 and p16 and the protein expression of PTEN and hMLH1 in 46 cases of endometriosis stages III and IV to better define the possible involvement of these genes in the malignant transformation of endometriosis. We found abnormal methylation of hMLH1 in 4 of the 46 cases (8.6%). In addition, these cases had no detectable hMLH1 protein expression. Regarding patients with hMLH1 alterations, 2 were classified as stage IV and 2 showed coexistent endometriosis and carcinoma. Only 1 case of endometriosis (2.17%), classified as atypical, showed abnormal methylation of p16. Reduced PTEN protein expression was detected in 7 of 46 cases (15.21%): 5 were clinically classified as stage IV, and the other 2 presented both cancer and hypermethylated hMLH1. Our preliminary study suggests that reduced expression of both hMLH1 and PTEN may be involved in the malignant evolution of endometriosis and should be used as markers of neoplastic transformation in aggressive endometriosis with elevated tumor markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Mariavita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccarone
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garganese
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maggiore
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vittori
authors.forename: Luigi Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Larocca
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1