Abstract:

Objective To analyze NF-κB，COX-2 and LKB1 expression in endometrial cancer tissues and normal controls，and assess clinical significance. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze expression of NF-κB，COX-2 and LKB1 in 60 endometrial cancer tissues，60 normal endometrial tissues from uterine myomas and 31 cases of atypical hyperplasia of endometrium. Possible relationships were explored between NF-κB，COX-2 and LKB1 expression and clinicopathological variables. Results The rate of NF-κB positivity was 63.3% for endometrial cancer tissue，41.9% for normal endometrial tissue，and 35.0% for atypical hyperplasia tissue. The corresponding results for COX-2 positivity were 70.0%，64.5% and 51.7%. The corresponding results for LKB1 positivity were 35.0%，61.3% and 93.3%. Expression of NF-κB and LKB1 varied significantly across the three types of tissue（P＜0.05），but expression of COX-2 did not（P＞0.05）. Expression of none of the three proteins correlated with pathology type，clinical stage or lymph node metastasis；however，LKB1 expression correlated positively with myometrial invasion and histology grade（P＜0.05），while NF-κB expression correlated with histology grade（P＜0.05）. Conclusion NF-κB is over-expressed and LKB1 under-expressed in endometrial cancer tissue. These proteins may be involved in the development and progression of endometrial cancer.

Key words: Uterine neoplasms, Endometrial cancer, NF-κB, COX-2, LKB1, Immunohistochemistry, Proten expression, Clinical significance