[Immunohistochemical study of PCNA, p53 gene product and c-erbB-2 gene product in endometrial carcinoma].

Abstract

I have investigated 84 endometrial specimens (from 15 cases of normal endometrium, 20 cass of hyperplasia and 49 cases of endometrial carcinoma) to determine the relationship between three proteins (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 gene product and c-erB-2 gene product) and endometrial carcinoma by immuno-histochemical staining. In 49 cases of endometrial carcinoma, the positive rates for PCNA, p53 protein (mutant type) and c-erbB-2 protein were 65.3%, 59.2% and 22.4%. I could not find the expression of p53 protein besides endometrial carcinoma. And I could find the expression of c-erbB-2 protein in 11 cases of endometrial carcinoma and 1 case of atypical hyperplasia, but not in normal endometrium. p53 protein was more common in such a case, as with lymphnode metastasis, deep myometral invasion and undifferentiated adenocarcinoma. c-erbB-2 was also more common in a case with deep myometrial invasion. In conclusion, PCNA, p53 protein and c-erbB-2 protein are related to the proliferation of endometrial carcinoma. So they can be useful factors in making the prognosis.