title: Comparative evaluation of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression with connexins 26 and 43 in endometrial cancer.
abstract: Progression of numerous neoplasms could involve alterations of gap junction channels composed of connexins (Cxs). Disorders of expression and cellular displacement of Cxs were also found in endometrial cancer. Gap junctional intercellular communication can be regulated by wide array of agents, for instance, growth factors, oncogenes, and steroid hormones. Nevertheless, expressions of Cxs and progesterone receptor (PR) were not compared in human tissues. This study focused on assessment of expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and PRs in relation to the expression of Cx26 and Cx43 in 88 cases of endometrial cancer and analysis of these proteins' expression in comparison with anatomoclinical features. Positive ERalpha and PR nuclear staining was present in 66 (75%) and 60 (68.2%) of all studied tumors, respectively. Positive correlation was found between expression of PR and histopathologic type of tumor (P = 0.026), and negative correlation was drawn with grading (G) (P = 0.002). There were positive reactions to Cx26 and Cx43 of mainly cytoplasmic location in 60 (68.2%) and 66 (75%) of studied cancers, respectively. Progesterone receptor expression correlated negatively with Cx26 in endometrial cancers (P = 0.016, r = -0.256). Moreover, ERalpha expression positively correlated with PR expression (P < 0.001, r = 0.678). On the ground of our findings, disorders of Cx expression and altered distribution pattern occur during endometrial carcinogenesis, and it seems that PR could participate in this fact. Loss of functional gap junctions may occur because of the aberrant expression and localization of Cx26 and Cx43 in endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lesniewicz
authors.forename: Luiza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kanczuga-Koda
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baltaziak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarzabek
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wincewicz
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sulkowska
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sulkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072259:Connexin 26; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; C500216:GJA1 protein, human; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D000072259:Connexin 26