Oestrogen regulated gene expression in normal and malignant endometrial tissue.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the expression of oestrogen regulated genes in premenopausal and postmenopausal normal and malignant endometrial specimens. The molecular mechanisms and the role of these genes in endometrial carcinogenesis are poorly understood.


METHODS
Normal and malignant endometrial specimens were collected from patients undergoing hysterectomy. Real time TaqMan PCR was used to examine the mRNA expression levels of oestrogen receptor a (ERa) and b (ERb), progesterone receptor (PR), insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).


RESULTS
Expression analysis was carried out on 60 patients. ERa was more predominantly expressed in the endometrial samples than ERb, 28% of the specimens did not express ER. Normal pre and postmenopausal tissue expressed higher levels of ERa, PR and IGF-1 than malignant tissue. ERa and PR expression was significantly higher in the proliferative phase endometrium compared to the secretory phase (P < 0.05). PR mRNA expression was significantly correlated with ERa in all tissue types.


CONCLUSIONS
ERa expression may play an important role in the regulation of PR in normal and malignant endometrium. Further work is needed to establish if IGF-1 plays a role in a subset of endometrial cancers and if isoforms of VEGF play a role in endometrial cancer.
O'Toole
Sharon A
SA
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Trinity College Dublin, Trinity Centre, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. shotoole@tcd.ie
Dunn
Elizabeth
E
Sheppard
Brian L
BL
Sheils
Orla
O
O'Leary
John J
JJ
Wuttke
Wolfgang
W
Seidlova-Wuttke
Dana
D
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I