Endocan value in serum and endometrial tissue for differantiation of endometrium cancer,endometrial hyperplasi̇a and endometrial polyp

Objective: It has been hypothesized that serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan can be elevated in endometrial cancer patients because endocan participates in the development of malignancies, pathogenesis of malignancy associated inflammation, angiogenesis and metastases. Therefore, this thesis has been designed to evaluate whether serum and endometrial concentrations of endocen can be used to predict endometrial cancer and distinguish endometrial cancer from benign endometrial pathologies. Methods: This is a cross-sectional review of 90 patients who underwent endometrial biopsy due to abnormal vaginal bleeding. Endometrial cancer was diagnosed in 13 patients while endometrial hyperplasia was detected in 12 patients and endometrial polyp was specified in 65 patients. The inclusion criteria were being older than 25 years, being younger than 90 years, volunteering for enrollment and having a body mass index < 31 kg/m2. The exclusion criteria were being younger than 25 years, being older than 90 years, smoking, consuming alcohol, having a body mass index ≥ 31 kg/m2 and concurrent tumors, undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or hormonal treatment. Data related with age, height, weight, gravidity, body mass index, gravidity, parity, number of living children, menopause, concurrent diseases, oral contraceptive use, serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan were recorded. Results: The patients with endometrial cancer had significantly older mean age and higher frequency of menopause than those of the patients with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial polyp mean age (respectively p=0.001 and p=0.01 for both variables). The patients with endometrial cancer had significantly lower height but higher gravidity, parity and number of living children than those of the patients with endometrial polyp (respectively p=0.003, p=0.023, p=0.045 and p=0.045). The endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial polyp groups were statistically similar with respect to body weight, body mass index, oral contraceptive use, diabetes mellitus and hypertension (respectively p=0.491, p=0.184, p=0.524, p=0.398 and p=0.160). The patients with endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial polyp had statistically similar serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan (respectively p=0.249 and p=0.675). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in literature to investigate serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan in patients with endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. However, this study shows that serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan are not significantly elevated in endometrial cancer patients. Such discrepancy can be attributed to the relatively small study cohort, lack of longitudinal data and inability to exclude patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and history of oral contraceptive use. Large scale and prospective studies should be planned to assess whether serum and endometrial concentrations of endocan could be used to predict endometrial cancer and distinguish endometrial cancer from other benign endometrial pathologies. Keyword: Endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial polyp, endocan