Expression and significance of beta-catenin, Glut-1 and PTEN in proliferative endometrium, endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia and endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the potentiality of beta-catenin, Glut-1 and PTEN proteins as markers for a diagnosis of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN).


METHODS
Ten proliferative endometrium, 83 endometrial hyperplasia (59 benign hyperplasia, 24 EIN) and 24 endometrioid adenocarcinoma sections were immunostained for beta-catenin, Glut-1 and PTEN protein expression.


RESULTS
(1) Abnormal expression of beta-catenin was detected in 10% of benign hyperplasia, 50% of EIN and 67% of endometriold adenocarcinoma. (2) Overexpression of Glut-1 was present in 58% of EIN and 71% of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. (3) Complete loss of PTEN immunoreactivity was found in 20% of proliferative endometrium, 29% of benign hyperplasia, 38% of EIN and 63% of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal expression of beta-catenin and overexpression of Glut-1 may be useful markers in distinguishing benign hyperplasia from EIN, whereas lack of PTEN expression is not an appropriate marker for a diagnosis of EIN.
Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. ybeary@hotmail.com
Y
Y
Xiong
Y Y
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Xiong
Y F
YF
Zhou
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D051176:beta Catenin; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase