title: The expression of selenium-binding protein 1 is decreased in uterine leiomyoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium has been shown to inhibit cancer development and growth through the mediation of selenium-binding proteins. Decreased expression of selenium-binding protein 1 has been reported in cancers of the prostate, stomach, colon, and lungs. No information, however, is available concerning the roles of selenium-binding protein 1 in uterine leiomyoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Western Blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of selenium-binding protein 1 in uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium in 20 patients who had undergone hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient age ranged from 34 to 58 years with a mean of 44.3 years. Proliferative endometrium was seen in 8 patients, secretory endometrium in 7 patients, and atrophic endometrium in 5 patients. Two patients showed solitary leiomyoma, and eighteen patients revealed 2 to 5 tumors. Tumor size ranged from 1 to 15.5 cm with a mean of 4.3 cm. Both Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry showed a significant lower level of selenium-binding protein 1 in leiomyoma than in normal myometrium. Larger tumors had a tendency to show a lower level of selenium-binding protein 1 than smaller ones, but the difference did not reach a statistical significance. The expression of selenium-binding protein 1 was the same among patients with proliferative, secretory, and atrophic endometrium in either leiomyoma or normal myometrium. Also, we did not find a difference of selenium-binding protein 1 level between patients younger than 45 years and older patients in either leiomyoma or normal myometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased expression of selenium-binding protein 1 in uterine leiomyoma may indicate a role of the protein in tumorigenesis. Our findings may provide a basis for future studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of selenium-binding protein 1 in tumorigenesis as well as the possible use of selenium in prevention and treatment of uterine leiomyoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cunxian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: M Ruhul
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Quddus
authors.forename: W Dwayne
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D051137:Selenium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495175:SELENBP1 protein, human; D051137:Selenium-Binding Proteins