Does high-grade endometrioid carcinoma (grade 3 FIGO) belong to type I or type II endometrial cancer? A clinical-pathological and immunohistochemical study.
This study was aimed at determining whether high-grade endometrioid carcinomas (grade 3 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) might overlap, at least partially, non-endometrioid carcinomas (type II). To this end, a panel of clinical-pathological and immunohistochemical parameters was evaluated in three different populations: low-grade endometrioid carcinomas (LGECs; n = 57), high-grade endometrioid carcinomas (HGECs; n = 26), and non-endometrioid carcinomas (NECs; n = 30). Besides morphological appearance, HGECs appeared similar to LGECs in p53 immunostaining profile; features different from LGECs included a higher local aggressiveness, a higher invasion of lymph-vascular spaces, a lower expression of ERalpha and PR, and a higher proliferative index. HGECs were similar to NECs for local aggressiveness, invasion rate of lymph-vascular spaces, lymph node metastasis incidence, and proliferative index. HGECs, however, showed a lower rate of extra-nodal metastases, a lower incidence of p53 overexpression, and a higher positivity for ERalpha and PR. In conclusion, results from this study show that HGECs exhibit overlapping morphological and immunohistochemical features of both type I and type II endometrial carcinomas. Further research is needed to clarify the clinical value of this observation.
Zannoni
Gian Franco
GF
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy. gfzannoni@rm.unicatt.it
Vellone
Valerio Gaetano
VG
Arena
Vincenzo
V
Prisco
Maria Grazia
MG
Scambia
Giovanni
G
Carbone
Arnaldo
A
Gallo
Daniela
D
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53