Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Endometrial carcinoma occurs mostly in post-menopausal women. Classical methods of prognostication, as FIGO stage and histopathologic grade, could be improved by applying additional techniques, utilizing molecular biology and immunochemistry. p-53 tumor suppressor gene, the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers has been shown to play an important role in the biology of gynecologic carcinomas. Angiogenesis, a process of formation of new vessels, being connected to tumors progression and metastatic potential was shown to be linked with tumor suppressor genes expression. The aim of the study was to evaluate relationships between intensity of tumor angiogenesis, serum levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and tissue p-53 protein expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Angiogenic Point's Density (APD) was calculated in hot spots areas using the morphometric appliance. For detection of p53 protein in tumor samples, LSAB + Kit Alkaline Phosphatase (DAKO) was used. VEGF levels were assessed in patient's blood sampled before the operation. Overexpression of p53 protein was found in tumor tissue in 35.2% of cases and mean angiogenic points density was greater in p53 positive cases. Serum levels of VEGF were above the cut off level in 54.5% of patients, in those cases angiogenesis was also elevated. In cases of p53 overexpression, VEGF levels tended to be greater as compared with p53 negative cases. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that angiogenesis was more intensive in p53 positive cases, confirming the hypothesis of tumor suppressor-gene regulation of the process of neovascularization. Serum levels of VEGF were borderline-significantly higher in cases of p53 overexpression, they were also correlated to the angiogenesis. Joint assessment of angiogenesis and tumor suppressor genes expression may contribute to reliable evaluation of the biology of endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:Evaluation of angiogenesis, p-53 tissue protein expression and serum VEGF in patients with endometrial cancer. 1525 72

PTEN: and beta-catenin mutations constitute the predominant genetic alterations in endometrioid carcinomas of the endometrium. PTEN encodes a dual-specificity phosphatase with lipid phosphatase and protein tyrosine phosphatase activities that regulate both apoptosis and interactions with the extracellular matrix. Recent studies have associated PTEN mutations with tumorigenesis of prostate carcinoma via the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to nuclear beta-catenin accumulation. To elucidate the potential interaction of PTEN and beta-catenin in endometrial cancer, we performed mutation analyses of the entire PTEN gene and of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene that is most frequently targeted by mutations. A total of 82 endometrial carcinomas comprising 62 type I endometrioid carcinomas and 20 type II high-grade carcinomas were investigated. In addition in a subset of 22 carcinomas, the intracellular beta-catenin distribution was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Overall, 20 (24.4%) of 82 tumors revealed mutations in the PTEN gene, and 16 (19.5%) of 82, in the beta-catenin gene. Six tumors (7.3%) showed mutations in both the PTEN and beta-catenin gene. Mutations were mainly detected in endometrioid carcinomas of the endometrium. As expected, a striking nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin could be shown in tumors with beta-catenin mutations. In the vast majority of tumors with PTEN mutations, a regular staining pattern of the cytoplasmic and membranous compartments was found. We therefore conclude that, in contrast to prostate cancer, mutations in the PTEN gene seem not to affect cellular distribution of the beta-catenin protein in endometrial carcinomas.
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PMID:PTEN mutations do not cause nuclear beta-catenin accumulation in endometrial carcinomas. 1549 94

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) and p53 alterations were expected to be diversely involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. Patients (n=92) with endometrial carcinoma (EC) were analyzed, and PTEN and p53 were immunostained in the tissue sections. Tumor histology, grade of differentiation, presence of endometrial hyperplasia, staining status of PTEN and p53 and clinical information were examined. There were 37 cases (40%) negative for PTEN staining, which suggests lost or reduced PTEN function. Loss of PTEN staining was significantly related to the advanced staging in the grade 1 (G1) and grade 2 (G2) endometrioid adenocarcinoma group (p=0.026). Also, 18 cases (20%) showed positive staining for p53. p53 staining was largely found in grade 3 (G3) endometrioid adenocarcinoma and other phenotypes of EC. In the G1 and G2 group, all 29 cases with reduced PTEN staining showed p53-negative staining (p=0.025). In the G3 and others group, 6 of 8 cases with reduced PTEN staining showed p53-positive staining. p53-positive staining was associated with a high probability of tumor recurrence in the G1 and G2 group (p=0.0234). In contrast, in the G3 and others group, p53-positive cases had a low probability of tumor recurrence (p=0.0473). Both PTEN and p53 staining may be good indicators of clinical stage and probability of tumor recurrence in EC. Reciprocal abnormality of p53 or PTEN occurred at an early phase of carcinogenesis, however simultaneous abnormality of p53 and PTEN often occurred at the a late phase of carcinogenesis. Thus, immunohistochemistry for PTEN and p53 in biopsy specimens of EC can provide supportive information for determining a treatment plan.
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PMID:PTEN and p53 abnormalities are indicative and predictive factors for endometrial carcinoma. 1558 96

The opinions about the causes of the endometrial carcinoma have changed since 1995, due to molecular biology progress. The findings concerning the recently discovered suppressor PTEN gene localized on the chromosome 10 -10q23.3, the product of which is a specific phosphatase are especially valuable. The loss of the gene function is directly linked with the genesis and progression of endometrial carcinoma, as well as cancers of other tissues and organs, including thyroid, breast, ovary, prostate or skin. Immunohistochemical studies with the use of the 6H2.1 antibody directed against the protein coded by the PTEN gene indicate that the protein cannot be found in more than half of the patients with endometrial carcinoma and its precursor--EIN. Mutations of the PTEN gene have also been detected in many young women with normal microscopic structure of the endometrial mucosa. Thus, a test for the absence of the PTEN gene product in the endometrial cells may be used for precise identification of early stages of carcinogenesis.
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PMID:[Pten gene expression in the endometrial mucosa]. 1687 40

Mutations in the MMAC/PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) gene are documented in cancers of the breast, prostate, ovary, colon, melanoma, glioblastoma, lymphoma and endometrium. In the present work MMAC/PTEN gene expression in women with endometrial adenocarcinoma (n=70) in RNA samples obtained from cancer tissue were investigated. Control DNA was obtained from 68 normal endometrial tissue. The MMAC/PTEN expression was determined by RT-PCR analysis. The expression of MMAC/PTEN gene in endometrial adenocarcinoma cases was significantly reduced compared to the expression in the normal samples (P < 0.05). Furthermore the significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the expression of MMAC/PTEN in stage III versus lower stages of endometrial cancer. The results support the hypothesis that the MMAC/PTEN gene expression may be associated with the incidence of endometrial cancer.
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PMID:MMAC/PTEN gene expression in endometrial cancer: RT-PCR studies. 1721 40

Recently, it has been shown that mice deficient in the proapoptotic protein prostate apoptosis response 4 (Par-4) are specifically prone to develop endometrial carcinomas. Based on this, we have examined here the possible role of Par-4 as a tumor suppressor gene in human endometrial cancer. Using cDNA arrays, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and immunohistochemistry, we detected Par-4 down-regulation in approximately 40% of endometrial carcinomas. This alteration was not associated with phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), K-RAS, or beta-catenin mutations, but was more frequent among tumors showing microsatellite instability (MSI) or among tumors that were estrogen receptor positive. Mutational analysis of the complete coding sequence of Par-4 in endometrial cancer cell lines (n = 6) and carcinomas (n = 69) detected a mutation in a single carcinoma, which was localized in exon 3 [Arg (CGA) 189 (TGA) Stop]. Interestingly, Par-4 promoter hypermethylation was detected in 32% of the tumors in association with low levels of Par-4 protein and was more common in MSI-positive carcinomas. Par-4 promoter hypermethylation and silencing was also detected in endometrial cancer cell lines SKUT1B and AN3CA, and reexpression was achieved by treatment with the demethylating agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Together, these data show that Par-4 is a relevant tumor suppressor gene in human endometrial carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Inactivation of the candidate tumor suppressor par-4 in endometrial cancer. 1733 19

The PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes (PHTS) are a collection of rare clinical syndromes characterized by germline mutations of the tumor suppressor PTEN. These syndromes are driven by cellular overgrowth, leading to benign hamartomas in virtually any organ. Cowden syndrome (CS), the prototypic PHTS syndrome, is associated with increased susceptibility to breast, thyroid, and endometrial cancer. PTEN is located on chromosome 10q22-23 and negatively regulates the prosurvival PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway through its lipid phosphatase activity. Loss of PTEN activates this pathway and leads to increased cellular growth, migration, proliferation, and survival. Clinical management of patients with PHTS, particularly those with CS, should include early and frequent screening, surveillance, and preventive care for associated malignancies. Concomitant with improved understanding of the biology of PTEN and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, inhibitors of this pathway are being developed as anticancer agents. These medications could have applications for patients with PHTS, for whom no medical options currently exist.
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PMID:PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes. 1878 Nov 91

Cowden syndrome (CS) is the prototypic PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes (PHTS), rare clinical syndromes characterized by germline mutations of the tumor suppressor PTEN. CS is characterized by association of macrocephaly, facial trichilemmomas, acral keratoses, papillomatous papules, with increased risk for breast, thyroid and endometrial cancer. PTEN, which is located on chromosome 10q23, regulates negatively the prosurvival PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway through a lipid phosphatase activity. Loss of PTEN activates this pathway and leads to increased cellular growth, migration, proliferation, and survival. CS diagnosis is clinical, based on the association of pathognomonic, major and minor criteria. The association in a patient with thyroid cancer, rarely with multinodular goiter, of typical dermatological manifestations, easily identifiable by clinical examination (papillomatous papules, acral keratoses, trichilemmomas), with a history of breast, endometrial, or renal cancer, or hamartomatous tumors presence, should alert the clinician. Clinical management of patients with CS is multidisciplinary, to include early and frequent screening, surveillance, and preventive care for associated malignancies. The development of antineoplastic agents targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, such as rapamycin, may be the opportunity of treatment in PHTS and CS patients, for whom no specific medical treatment exist.
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PMID:[Cowden syndrome, or multiple hamartomatous tumor syndrome, in clinical endocrinology]. 2062 33

Endometrial carcinoma expresses gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (Gn-RHR) known to be linked by heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). We have examined endometrial carcinomas for the presence of G protein and its associated membrane event in isolated plasma membranes. Endometrial carcinomas surgically removed had been screened for Gn-RHR expression prior to plasma membrane isolation. G protein level was observed by immunoblotting of membrane extracts with anti-G protein antibodies. G protein-associated membrane event was observed by phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity determined with the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl in a spectrophotometric assay. Immunoblotting with the specific G alpha 11 and G alpha s antibodies showed significant levels of 42-kDa and 46-kDa proteins in endometrial carcinoma membranes, respectively. The nonhydrolyzable GTP analog GTP-gamma-S stimulated the phosphatase activity in a dose-dependent manner: a half maximal effect occurred with 30 nM. These findings demonstrate the expression of G proteins and the presence G proteins-associated membrane event in endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:GTP-binding protein and its associated event in membranes from endometrial carcinoma. 2159 36

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecological cancer in women in developed countries. Two types of endometrial cancer, type I (estrogen-related) and type II (estrogen-unrelated), may be distinguished on the basis of molecular and clinicopathological characteristics. The article presents the most common mutations leading to the development of endometrial carcinomas such as PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog), overexpression of COX-2 gene, VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), ErbB-2 (HER2) proto-oncogene. Also, new strategies of treatment of this disease, based on directed drugs with specific mechanism of drug action, have been described. Those drugs offer considerable hope in treating advanced stages of metastatic cancers, particularly combined with chemotherapy. Knowledge of pathomechanisms of endometrial cancer together with proper selection of patients, proceeded by tests which determine changes of gene expressions, may significantly improve the efficiency of the treatment. The authors present available publications on the subject of clinical research regarding new drugs used in monotherapy and combined therapy of endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:[Disturbance of gene expression in endometrial cancer as therapy aim]. 2173 95


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