title: Investigation of galectin-3 and heparanase in endometrioid and serous carcinomas of the endometrium and correlation with known predictors of survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis are emerging as important new drug candidates for cancer therapy. Galectin-3 and heparanase have been shown to function in tumor progression and metastatic spread. Both of them exert pleiotropic effects; proliferation, cell migration, differentiation and tissue remodeling. The aim of this study was to investigate heparanase and galectin-3 expression in endometrioid and serous carcinomas of the endometrium and their relation with well-known prognostic factors, in addition to estrogen, progesterone, C-erbB-2, Ki-67 and p53.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four endometrial cancers, which include 24 serous types, were obtained from previously untreated patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of 64 carcinomas, 20 endometrial hyperplasia (ten of simple hyperplasia and ten of complex atypic hyperplasia) and 20 normal endometrium (ten of proliferative and ten of secretory) was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation suggests that the decreased expression of galectin-3 may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinomas from normal endometrium to carcinoma. Also down-regulated stromal expression of galectin-3 in endometrial carcinoma may be involved in lymph node metastasis. Further studies on a larger advanced stage (FIGO stage 3-4) endometrial carcinoma group may determine the value of heparanase in the endometrial carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Patoloji Laboratuarı, Siverek Devlet Hastanesi, 63700 Siverek/Sanliurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ciğdem Berna
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ege
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zekioğlu
authors.forename: Necmettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037502:Galectin 3; D005966:Glucuronidase; D000099175:Heparanase