Aromatase expression was not detected by immunohistochemistry in endometrial cancer

Several studies suggested that aromatase could play an important role in tumor progression and prognosis in endometrial cancer because androstenedione is converted to estrogen by the enzyme. For better understanding of the aromatase expression in endometrial cancer and its relation to diverse clinicopathological parameters, we conducted this study. This study was carried out with 141 endometrial cancer patients, all of whom had undergone operations in our institution from 1993 to 2002. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were sectioned and immunostained with monoclonal antiaromatase antibody using human placental tissue as positive control. Clinicopathological variables of all patients were also reviewed. Despite quite a high aromatase expression in positive control, there was no endometrial cancer specimen showing the enzyme expression. Our result, although needs further investigation on the cause of the difference from other studies, suggested that aromatase might not have an important role in endometrial cancer.