PTEN expression in tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancers.
Tamoxifen is associated with increased rates of endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. Our previous work suggested tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancers might be associated with p53 mutations. PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene, is altered in low-grade endometrial carcinoma. This study evaluates PTEN immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancers.


METHODS
Twenty-eight endometrial carcinoma specimens were examined from patients with a history of breast cancer. Patients who had taken Tamoxifen (15) were compared to non-users (13). IHC staining was performed for PTEN; overexpression was defined as greater than 70% positivity.


RESULTS
The mean duration of tamoxifen use was 3.3 years (3-171 months). Four out of 15 (27%) tamoxifen users expressed PTEN compared with 2 out of 13 (15%) of non-users.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, it appears that tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancers are not significantly different from sporadic endometrial cancer with regards to PTEN IHC expression, although there is a trend towards retained PTEN expression.
Holtz
David
D
Thomas Jefferson University, 111S 11th Street, 620 Gibbon Building, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Ramondetta
Lois M
LM
Burke
Thomas W
TW
Palazzo
Juan P
JP
Dunton
Charles J
CJ
Atkinson
E Neely
EN
Broaddus
Russell R
RR
D000368:Aged; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human