The role of syndecan-1 during endometrial carcinoma progression

Syndecan-1 (CD138) has most extensively been studied and correlated with many types of cancers. CD138 is mainly expressed in epithelial cells and plasma cells. Quite a few previous studies have called attention to the expression status of CD138 in EC. We aimed to determine the location of CD138 in the hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma progression scale, and its relation with proliferation via Ki67, and to identify a new criterion in the differential diagnosis of hyperplasia-carcinoma.

A total of 120 endometrial curettage materials with proliferative and secretory phase endometrium, hyperplasia without atypical, atypical hyperplasia, and endometrium carcinoma examined in the pathology laboratory between 1995 and 2016 were included in the study. Samples were subjected to immunostaining for CD138 and Ki67 using antibody.

Statistical analysis revealed a significant and negative correlation between histopathological progression and CD138 (P < 0.01). Statistical analysis revealed a significant and positive correlation between histopathological progression and Ki67 (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation between Ki67 and CD138 (P < 0.01).

CD138 may be helpful in diagnostic difficulties, and benign pathologies should be considered due to the increase in staining density. Furthermore, we believe that CD138 will be an important criterion in determining the risk of malignancy in hyperplasia, and the risk of malignancy progression may increase in cases, of which intensity of staining decreases in accordance with the normal endometrium.