[Expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene in endometrial carcinoma]

To study the expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) and its relationship with the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) protein and microvessel density (MVD) in endometrial carcinoma.

Expressions of PTTG mRNA and protein were assessed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry methods respectively in 50 cases of endometrial carcinomas, 15 cases of hyperplasia endometria and 12 cases of normal endometrial tissue. Expressions of bFGF protein were detected by immunohistochemistry. Microvessels were highlighted by staining endothelial cells with CD(34) antigen, and MVDs were counted.

The expression rate and average quantity of PTTG mRNA were detected in a significantly greater proportion endometrial carcinomas (96%, 0.84 +/- 0.08) than in hyperplasia endometria (60%, 0.78 +/- 0.06) and normal endometrial tissue (33%, 0.48 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01, respectively). The expression of PTTG protein in endometrial carcinomas (70%) was significantly higher than in hyperplasia endometria (40%) and normal endometrial tissue (17%, P < 0.01). The expression of PTTG was related to surgical-pathological stage, myometrial infiltration depth, lymphatic metastasis and pathological subtype (P < 0.05, respectively), but was irrelevant to patients' age and pathological grade (P > 0.05, respectively). The average quantity of PTTG mRNA and expression rate of PTTG protein in tissues with bFGF protein coexpression (0.86 +/- 0.07, 87%) were higher than in those without bFGF protein coexpression (0.80 +/- 0.06, 42%, P < 0.01, respectively). The MVD in tissues with PTTG protein expression (62 +/- 18) was higher than in those without PTTG protein expression (51 +/- 12, P < 0.05).

PTTG may play an important role in carcinogenesis and development of endometrial carcinoma. PTTG induces an angiogenesis through bFGF which is a key determinant step in tumor progression and metastatic spread.