Altered PTEN expression; a diagnostic marker for differentiating normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic Oncology
• Molecular Pathology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EECA) exhibits diverse molecular alterations.
• Loss of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene is a frequent event in EECA.
• Understanding PTEN expression is crucial for endometrial cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression patterns of the PTEN gene.
• To compare PTEN expression in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrium.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of PTEN performed on 87 endometrial specimens.
• Specimens categorized into normal endometrium, hyperplastic endometrium, and EECA.
• Quantitative analysis of PTEN immunostaining intensity and area.

Main Results:

• PTEN immunoreactivity observed in all normal endometrium and simple hyperplasia cases.
• PTEN present in 75% of atypical hyperplasia and 48% of EECA.
• Significantly higher PTEN expression intensity in normal endometrium compared to hyperplastic and cancerous tissues (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• PTEN expression is significantly diminished in atypical hyperplasia and EECA.
• PTEN downregulation correlates with endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma progression.
• PTEN status may serve as a biomarker in endometrial pathologies.