Loss of Fhit protein expression in high-grade and advanced stage endometrial carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene located at 3p14.2, and the absence or reduction of Fhit protein expression has recently been reported in various carcinomas.


METHODS
We examined the expression of Fhit protein in 50 endometrial carcinomas and 19 normal endometrial tissues by immunohistochemistry, and this expression was correlated with clinicopathological parameters, p53 expression, sex steroid receptor status and abnormal FHIT transcripts.


RESULTS
All the specimens of normal endometrial gland in the proliferative phase exhibited relatively strong Fhit expression, while most of endometrial tissues in the secretory phase showed weak Fhit expression. In 50 endometrial carcinomas, immunoreactivity for Fhit protein was strong in 21 cases (42%), weak in 22 cases (44%) and partially or totally absent in the remaining 7 cases (14%). There were significant correlations of negative Fhit expression with high tumor grade (p = 0.033) and with advanced stage (p = 0.048). On the other hand, abnormal FHIT transcripts lacking several exons were found in 29% of cases. Neither p53 nor sex steroid receptor status were significantly related with the loss of Fhit expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The loss of Fhit protein expression may be associated with aggressive phenotype of endometrial carcinomas.
Yura
Yasuichiro
Y
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Mandai
Masaki
M
Konishi
Ikuo
I
Hamid
Atia A
AA
Tsuruta
Yuko
Y
Kusakari
Takashi
T
Fujii
Shingo
S
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase