Diagnostic utility of lipocalin 2 and metalloproteinase 9 levels in early-stage endometrial cancer.

Abstract

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most common gynecologic malignancy among women. Histopathologic examination is considered gold-standard for diagnosis of EC. However, these examinations sometimes not be useful in distinguishing early stage types of EC.

Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), and ferritin in tumor progression.

Methods: A total of 98 patients (55 women newly diagnosed with early-stage endometrial cancer [study group] and 43 women with benign endometrial pathologies [control group]) were enrolled.

Results: There was a significant difference between diagnosis (p < 0.001), surgical procedure (p < 0.001), pathology (p = 0.002), stage (p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.002), myometrial invasion (p < 0.001), and staining intensity (p < 0.001), MMP9 (p = 0.023), LCN2 (p < 0.001), glucocorticoid (GC) (p = 0.048), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (p = 0.044), menopause duration (p = 0.001), body weight (p < 0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) were found to be higher, and ferritin levels (p = 0.047) were lower in the endometrial adenocarcinoma group compared to the benign endometrial pathologies.

Conclusion: LCN2, MMP9, and ferritin are practical markers in early cases of endometrial cancer. Serum LCN2 and MMP9 levels may be good clinical tools for the auxiliary diagnosis of early-stage endometrial cancer. Ferritin was also significantly sensitive. Therefore, detecting these markers together may be more beneficial for cancer diagnosis.