Determining the Risk of Premenopausal Endometrial Carcinoma by Analysing Expression of c-eErb-B2 in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to determine the risk of premenopausal endometrial carcinoma by analyzing c-erb-B2 overexpression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 20 women with PCOS, 20 premenopausal women under the age of 50 with endometrial carcinoma and 20 healthy women were eligible for the study. RESULTS: 18 (90%) of the endometrial cancers were endometrioid adenocarcinoma. C-erb-B2 overexpression, was found in 4 (20%) of endometrial cancer cases. Women with endometrial cancer were found to have significantly higher c-erb-B2 overexpression compared to women with PCOS and with normal endometrial biopsy (p=0.037). Polycystic ovaries (PCO), as a marker of PCOS, were investigated histologically from 10 of the 20 (50%) women with endometrial cancer. Comparing women with endometrial cancer on their own in terms of c-erb-B2 expression, no significant difference was found in PCO existence (p>0.05), and in terms of PCO existence, there was no significant difference in c-erb-B2 expression and age however, PCO (+) women were slightly younger than PCO (-) ones. All of the PCO (+) women had obesity, as compared to PCO (-) ones (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: C-erb-B2 overexpression appears to play a role in endometrial carcinomas. In women with endometrial cancer, although no significant difference is found, lower mean age of PCO (+) patients preoccupies the possibility of developing cancer at early ages in PCOS. c-erb-B2 overexpression is not found in the endometrial tissues from women with PCOS and is therefore not a determining factor for endometrial cancer among these women.

Keywords

• c-erb-B2, Endometrial carcinoma, PCOS