CTNN1 mutation, ß-catenin and E-cadherin experssion, and the relationship with the clinical and histopathological prognostic factors in endometrial adenocarsinomas and hyperplasias

Endometrial cancers are the most common cancers of the female genital tract that more than 80 % of it consist of endometrioid type adenocarcinomas. In endometrial cancers, the underlying factors and their correlation with several histologic and clinical parameters are guiding the patients follow up and new treatment methods. In our study, CTNNB1 mutation, ß-catenin and E-cadherin expressions are examined and their relationship with the prognostic parameters and survival are studied.Between 2002-2007, ninety three endometrioid adenocarcinoma, fifteen atypical endometrial hyperplasia cases were diagnosed in Çukurova University, Medical Faculty at the Pathology Department. We have investigated the expression of ß-catenin and E-cadherin by immunohistochemistry and CTNNB1 by PCR in all cases. In this study 93 endometrioid adenocarcinoma cases membranous and cytoplasmic ß-catenin expression was found in 74 cases, nuclear expression was found in14 cases and negative ß-catenin expression was found 5 in cases. Among the 15 atypical endometrial hiperplasia cases membranous and cytoplasmic ß-catenin expression was found in all of the cases. In univariate analysis ß-catenin was found to have prognostic significance with survival. In multivariete analysis negative ß-catenin expression was found as an independent prognostic factor. CTNNB1 mutation was found in 34 ( 36,6 %) of 93 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and it was found in 3 (20 %) cases out of 15 atypical endometrial hiperplasia cases. There was a significant correlation between CTNNB1 mutation and histologic grade.Decreased mutations were found in high grade tumors. There were statistical significance between E-cadherin expression and tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, metastasis of lymph node.In this study, it has been shown that CTNNB1 mutation take a role early steps of carcinogenesis in endometrioid adenocarcinoma and negative ß-catenin expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for survival.Key Words: Endometrioid adenocarcinoma, E-cadherin, ß-catenin, CTNNB1 mutation