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Immunohistochemical localization of metallothionein in endometrial lesions
Author(s) -
Ioachim Elli E.,
Kitsiou Evangelia,
Carassavoglou Catherin,
Stefanaki Stella,
Agnantis N. J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9896(2000)9999:9999<::aid-path616>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , metallothionein , endometrium , progesterone receptor , biology , hyperplasia , pathology , follicular phase , receptor , atypical hyperplasia , estrogen receptor , endocrinology , medicine , cancer , gene , biochemistry , genetics , breast cancer
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a group of ubiquitous low‐molecular‐weight proteins essential for the protection of cells against heavy metal ion toxicity. The immunohistochemical expression of MT was studied by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody (E9) against a conserved epitope of I and II isoforms in a series of 89 endometrial carcinomas, 34 cases of hyperplasia, and 32 samples of normal endometrium. In secretory phase endometrium, extensive MT expression was detected in most cases (92.4%). In contrast, MT immunoreactivity was confined to small foci in 22.2% of proliferative phase cases. The MT values in normal endometrium were inversely correlated with oestrogen receptor (ER) content ( p <0.0001), progesterone receptor (PgR) content and with PCNA ( p <0.0001) and MIB1 ( p =0.001) scores. In hyperplastic lesions, MT expression was detected only in 3.3% of cases, while in the group of carcinomas it was observed in 23.1%. A statistically significant difference of MT expression was observed between carcinomas and simple hyperplasias ( p =0.03). In carcinomas, MT expression was positively correlated with grade ( p =0.0065), MIB1 ( p =0.022), and p53 ( p =0.006) expression, and inversely with PgR ( p =0.03). A trend of inverse correlation between MT and ER receptor was also detected ( p =0.07). These data suggest that MT expression seems to be under hormonal control in normal endometrium; that it may modify p53 expression; and that it could be used as an additional biological marker indicating aggressive behaviour in endometrial lesions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.