title: Immunohistochemical detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), topoisomerase IIalpha expression, and apoptosis in endometrial adenocarcinoma and atypical hyperplasia.
abstract: This study evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and related it to the expression of topoisomerase (TP)IIalpha (a proliferation associated enzyme); apoptosis as determined by the frequency of apoptotic bodies (ABI); mitotic counts; and other clinicopathologic variables. Immunoreactivity for hTERT and TPIIalpha as well as ABI were assessed in 57 endometrial samples (12 atypical hyperplasias, 33 endometrioid carcinomas, 12 serous/clear cell carcinomas). hTERT immunoreactivity, TPIIalpha labeling indices (LI), ABI, and ratios of the indices (ABI/TPIIalpha LI) increased from atypical hyperplasias to endometrioid carcinomas to serous/clear cell carcinomas (p < 0.0001 for each variable). hTERT expression increased with ABI (p < 0.0001), TPIIalpha LI (p = 0.0019), ABI/TPIIalpha ratios (p < 0.0001), and grade (p = 0.0005), but not with FIGO stage (p = 0.2775). TPIIalpha LI, ABI, and ratios were related to high grade (p = 0.0001 for each variable), but not with FIGO stage (p = 0.7362, p = 0.7554, and p = 0.7405, respectively). TPIIalpha LI and ABI were significantly correlated in atypical hyperplasias (p = 0.0004), endometrioid carcinomas (p < 0.0001), and serous/clear cell carcinomas (p = 0.024). Immunostaining levels for hTERT were similar in atypical hyperplasias and grade 1 endometrioid carcinomas (p = 0.1956). These results suggest that hTERT expression is closely related to proliferation, apoptosis, and high grade in endometrial carcinomas, reflecting cell cycle deregulation in endometrial carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Thermenklinikum Moedling, Vienna, Austria. ddrbrustmann@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brustmann
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019098:Telomerase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II