Expression of L1CAM and KI-67 in Endometrial Cancer of Egyptian Females: Clinical Impact and Survival

Abstract

Introduction: Endometrial adenocarcinoma is characterized by a good prognosis. However, the disease response shows a significant heterogeneity. Treatment of endometrial cancer (EC) is still based on clinico-pathological parameters, which have limited role in risk stratification. There is a need for more determinant markers, such as L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule (L1CAM), to identify patients at higher risk of relapse and tailor a more convenient treatment. L1CAM has a capacity to enhance cell motility and promote tumor invasion in different malignancies. In Egypt, the incidence rate of EC is growing over time. Especially in Elgharbiah governorate (home of this study). L1CAM expression and Ki-67 was reported and compared with other clinico-pathological criteria. Method: Seventy-six female patients of endometrial carcinomas were involved in this prospective study. The patients were treated and followed up at Tanta University Hospitals in the period between January 2015 to April 2019. L1CAM expression and Ki-67 was detected by immuno-histochemical exam and compared with other clinico-pathological criteria. Survival was assessed and compared by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Results: Positive L1CAM expression was detected in 17 patients (22.4%) and was significantly correlated with unfavorable prognostic factors such as higher stage and grade (P= 0.021 and P =0.001 respectively), lympo-vascular invasion (P <0.001), non-endometroid type (P <0.027) and Ki-67 (P= 0.003). Univariate analysis revealed that: positive L1CAM; higher tumor grade; high stage; and non-endometrioid type were significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS) but no significant correlation was detected between Ki-67 and DFS. In multivariate analysis, positive L1CAM remained statistically significant with DFS [P =0.045; 95%CI (1.028:11.17); HR=3.38]. Conclusion: Our study indicates that L1CAM expression and Ki-67 are significantly associated with poor tumor characteristics. L1CAM is significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival and may be a helpful tool as a part of a simple clinical molecular classification for EC.