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Inhibin/activin-betaC subunit does not represent a prognostic parameter in human endometrial cancer

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Inhibins, dimeric peptide hormones composed of an α subunit and one of two possible β subunits (betaA or betaB), exhibit substantial roles in human reproduction and in endocrine-responsive tumors. Recently, two novel inhibin-beta subunits, defined as betaC and betaE, have been identified in humans. However, the prognostic significance and clinical implications of the novel inhibin-betaC subunit in endometrial cancers is still quite unclear.

Materials and methods

A series of 296 uterine endometrial carcinomas were immunohistochemically analyzed with specific antibody against the inhibin-betaC subunit. The staining reactions were correlated with several clinicopathological characteristics and the clinical outcome.

Results

Endometrial cancer tissue demonstrated an immunolabelling against the inhibin-betaC subunit. The inhibin-betaC expression in endometrial carcinoma samples revealed a significant association with hemangiosis. However, the expression of this inhibin subunit did not affect patients’ progression-free, cause-specific and overall survival.

Conclusion

Overall, inhibin-betaC subunit was demonstrated in endometrial cancer tissue. This novel betaC subunit demonstrated a significant association with hemangiosis although without any impact on the patients’ survival. Moreover, the inhibin-betaC subunits did not constitute an independent prognostic parameter in endometrial cancer patients. Therefore, the isolated analysis of this subunit might be of minor prognostic value in identifying high-risk patients.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. S. Worbs, Mrs. S. Schulze, Dr. D. Dian, Dr. A. Gingelmaier, Dr. C. Schindlbeck, Prof. H. Sommer and Prof. Dr. U. Jeschke for their help in conducting the primary study regarding inhibin-α, -βA and -βB expression in endometrial cancer. Additionally we would like to thank Prof. D. Hölzel, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and Mr. M. Schmidt of the Munich Tumor Registry for supplying the survival data. This study was partially supported by the FöFoLe program of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (297/03), the Friedrich-Baur-Institute Munich and the Weigland Stipendium Program of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich for I. Mylonas.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review their data if required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Stefanie D. Käufl, Christina Kuhn, Susanne Kunze, Naim Shabani, Ansgar Brüning, Klaus Friese & Ioannis Mylonas

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Klinikum Neuperlach, Munich, Germany

    Naim Shabani

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  1. Stefanie D. Käufl
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  2. Christina Kuhn
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Correspondence to Ioannis Mylonas.

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Käufl, S.D., Kuhn, C., Kunze, S. et al. Inhibin/activin-betaC subunit does not represent a prognostic parameter in human endometrial cancer. Arch Gynecol Obstet 284, 199–207 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1614-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1614-y

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