[Effects of tamoxifen on the expression of TGF-beta and p27 proteins in polyps and adjacent endometrium in postmenopausal women].
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the expression of TGF-beta and p27 proteins in polyps and adjacent endometrium of women after menopause.


METHODS
prospective study with 30 post-menopausal women with diagnosis of breast cancer, taking tamoxifen (20 mg/day), presenting diagnosis of suspect endometrial polyps through transvaginal ultrasonography, and submitted to diagnostic and surgical hysterectomy to withdraw the polyps and adjacent endometrium. A immunohistochemical study has been done to verify the expression of the TGF-beta and p27 proteins in the polyps and adjacent endometrium. These proteins' quantification has been done by morphometry.


RESULTS
the patients' average age was 61.7 years old; their average age at the menopause onset was 49.5; and the average of using tamoxifen was 25.3 months. The average concentration of positive cells for TGF-beta protein in the glandular and stroma polyp epithelium was 62.6+/-4.5 cells/mm(2). For the p27, in the glandular polyp epithelium, it was 24.2+/-18.6 cells/mm(2) and for the stroma, 19.2+/-15.2 cells/mm(2). There was no significant difference between the expression of TGF-beta and p27 in the glandular epithelial form the polyps and the adjacent endometrium. The expression of proteins in the polyp and adjacent endometrium with its respective glandular and stroma epithelium showed a significant difference for the p27 protein (r=0.9, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
we have concluded that the TGF-beta expression is not related to the effect of tamoxifen on the growing of endometrial polyps, but the absence of polyps' malignization by tamoxifen may be explained by the high expression of p27 protein in its glandular epithelium.
Botogoski
Sheldon Rodrigo
SR
Departamento de Ginecologia e Mama, Hospital Erasto Gaertner, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. sheldon@centroeuropeu.com.br
Lima
Sônia Maria Rolim Rosa
SM
Galvão
Maria Antonieta Longo
MA
Ribeiro
Paulo Augusto Ayrosa Galvão
PA
Hatschbach
Sérgio Bruno
SB
Linhares
José Clemente
JC
Aoki
Tsutomu
T
D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013629:Tamoxifen; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27