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Published on: August 19, 2021
Loss of Hugl-1 expression associates with lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer
Tetsushi Tsuruga1, Shunsuke Nakagawa, Michiko Watanabe
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Abstract:
Mutation of neoplastic tumor suppressor genes, scribble, discs large, and lethal giant larvae (lgl), causes disruption of cell polarity and overproliferation of Drosophila epithelial cells and neuroblasts. Reduced expression of human homologue of lgl, Hugl-1, has been reported to be involved in development and progression of human colon cancer and malignant melanoma. To explore the association between Hugl-1 expression and clinical character in endometrial cancer, we examined the expression of Hugl-1 in primary endometrial cancer tissues. The expression of Hugl-1 mRNA in 86 primary endometrial cancer tissues was examined using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All samples were categorized into two groups: Hugl-1 positive and Hugl-1 negative. Clinical data of each group were analyzed by Fisher's exact probability test and survival rates of each group were compared by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test. Loss of Hugl-1 expression had correlation with the higher incidence of lymph node metastasis, but not to the patient's age at onset, distant metastasis, clinical stage, lymph or venous vessel invasion, or histopathological grade of differentiation. The Hugl-1-positive group had poorer prognosis compared with the Hugl-1-negative group. These results indicate that loss of Hugl-1 expression in endometrial cancer may contribute to lymph node metastasis and it can be a factor of poor prognosis.
Insights
Loss of Hugl-1 expression in endometrial cancer correlates with increased lymph node metastasis and poorer prognosis. This finding suggests Hugl-1
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Neoplastic tumor suppressor genes like scribble, discs large, and lethal giant larvae (lgl) regulate cell polarity and proliferation.
- Reduced expression of the human homologue of lgl (Hugl-1) is implicated in colon cancer and malignant melanoma progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Hugl-1 expression and clinical characteristics in endometrial cancer.
- To determine if Hugl-1 expression levels correlate with patient prognosis in endometrial cancer.
Main Methods:
- Examined Hugl-1 mRNA expression in 86 primary endometrial cancer tissues using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Categorized samples into Hugl-1 positive and negative groups.
- Analyzed clinical data and survival rates using Fisher's exact probability test, Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-rank test.
Main Results:
- Loss of Hugl-1 expression was significantly correlated with a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis.
- No significant correlation was found between Hugl-1 expression and patient age, distant metastasis, clinical stage, lymph or venous vessel invasion, or histopathological grade.
- The Hugl-1-positive group exhibited a poorer prognosis compared to the Hugl-1-negative group.
Conclusions:
- Loss of Hugl-1 expression in endometrial cancer may promote lymph node metastasis.
- Reduced Hugl-1 expression is a potential indicator of poor prognosis in endometrial cancer patients.
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