p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors in diagnostic curettage for endometrial adenocarcinoma and their correlation with morphological data and disease stage at hysterectomy.
BACKGROUND
Diagnostic staging is an important prognostic factor for endometrial adenocarcinoma. Apart from the histological type and histological grade, some markers seem to be associated with the stage and biological behavior of the disease. Among these are p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the present study were: to compare histological type and grading of endometrial carcinoma in curettage and hysterectomy samples; to assess expression of p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors in curettage specimens; and to correlate these data with morphology and staging of the disease in hysterectomy specimens.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Department of Pathology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas.


METHODS
Histological diagnosis from 51 consecutive files.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical reactions for p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors via the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method in 51 curettage samples endometrial carcinoma were compared with the morphological data and disease stage in hysterectomy. Marker expression was correlated with histological type and grade and the final stage of the disease.


RESULTS
According to the histological type: 44 cases (86%) were of endometrioid and 7 (14%) non-endometrioid carcinoma. p53 expression was observed in 16% of endometrioid and 71% of non-endometrioid cases (p<0.05). Although estrogen expression was more evident in endometrioid (54%) than non-endometrioid cases (29%), this was not statistically significant. Progesterone receptor expression was significantly higher in endometrioid than non-endometrioid cases (70% vs. 14%, p<0.05). According to the histological grade: Estrogen and progesterone receptors were expressed more frequently in grade I endometrioid carcinoma, while p53 was mainly reported in tumor grades II and III. According to final disease stage: p53 and estrogen expression in curettage specimens was not related to stage; progesterone receptors, however, were expressed significantly less in advanced disease.


CONCLUSIONS
p53 was observed in the majority of non-endometrioid and in high-grade endometrioid carcinoma, but was not related to stage. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were mainly found in grade I endometrioid carcinoma. The markers studied in curettage were no more valuable for predicting the disease stage than classical histological criteria.
Department of Pathological Anatomy, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. mbonfitto@hotmail.com
Vera Lúcia Leite
VL
Bonfitto
Liliana Aparecida Lucci
LA
de Angelo Andrade
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000473:pathology*; D003475:Curettage; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53