P53 expression in spontaneous and estradiol-induced endometrial hyperplasia during menopause.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression in both spontaneously occurring cases or following the use of unopposed estradiol.


METHODS
Fifty-four postmenopausal patients with endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed by endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy were recruited to this study. Thirty-three patients had used unopposed estradiol for periods of time from 1 to 3 years. P53 expression was detected in paraffin-embedded endometrial specimens by immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
The percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression was significantly greater in spontaneously occurring hyperplasia than in cases induced by the unopposed use of estradiol.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial hyperplasia caused by the unopposed use of estradiol during menopause probably harbors fewer genomic errors than those cases occurring spontaneously.
Maia
Hugo
H
Endoscopy Unit, Centro de Pesquisa e Assistência em Reprodução Humana - CEPARH, Rua Caetano Moura, 35, Salvador, 40210-341, Bahia, Brazil. ceparh@uol.com.br
Maltez
Amélia
A
Athayde
Célia
C
Coelho
Genevieve
G
Coutinho
Elsimar M
EM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004958:Estradiol