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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:40
Methyl-binding DNA capture Sequencing for Patient Tissues
Published on: October 31, 2016
Aberrant maspin expression in human endometrial cancer
Shinya Murai1, Chihaya Maesawa, Tomoyuki Masuda
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan.
Cancer Science
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Maspin, a mammary serine protease inhibitor, is aberrantly expressed in endometrial cancer, particularly with squamous differentiation. DNA demethylation at the maspin promoter induces its expression, potentially influencing tumor cell differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Maspin (mammary serine protease inhibitor) was initially identified as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer.
- Its role and expression in endometrial cancer remain to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate maspin expression patterns in endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
- To assess the clinicopathological significance of maspin in endometrial cancer.
- To explore the relationship between maspin expression, DNA methylation, and squamous differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to examine maspin expression in 41 endometrioid adenocarcinoma cases.
- Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyzed maspin promoter methylation status.
- Cell lines were utilized to confirm maspin expression and induction by demethylating agents.
Main Results:
- Aberrant maspin expression was detected in 66% of endometrioid adenocarcinomas, absent in normal endometrium.
- Positive maspin staining and nuclear localization significantly correlated with squamous differentiation (P < 0.05).
- An inverse correlation was found between maspin immunoreactivity and promoter methylation (P < 0.01).
- Maspin expression was induced by DNA demethylation in cell lines.
Conclusions:
- Maspin expression is altered in endometrioid adenocarcinomas, linked to DNA demethylation.
- Induced maspin expression may play a role in the squamous differentiation of endometrial tumor cells.
- Maspin's clinicopathological significance in endometrial cancer requires further investigation.
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