A role of thymidine phosphorylase and P53 tissue protein expression in biology of endometrial cancer

Tumor suppressor gene p53, the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers has been shown to play an important role in the biology of gynaecological carcinomas. Thymidine phosphorylase is one of the most important angiogenic factors, which is connected with tumor expansion and invasiveness. The aim of the study was an evaluation of thymidine phosphorylase and p-53 tissue protein expression in human endometrial cancer cells by immunohistochemistry and comparison obtained data with clinicopathological factors as FIGO stage of disease and histopathologic grade. Endometrial cancer specimens were obtained from 55 postmenopausal patients (aged 52 to 74 years) operated by total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. None of patients received preoperative pelvic irradiation. Histopathological typing and grading of the endometrial tumors (G-1, G-2, G-3) as well as myometrial invasion (< 1/2, > 1/2) were assessed using standard criteria, on hematoxylin-eosin sections. FIGO clinical stage of disease was determined. at the surgery. Thymidine phosphorylase overexpression was observed in 23 (41,8 %) cases. Although we found no statistically significant differences in TP expression between histopathologic grades, particular FIGO stages showed a significant trend of increase TP tumor overexpression. P53 protein overexpression was observed in tumor tissue in 21 cases (35,2%). It tended to be more frequent in cases of advanced disease as well as in low differentiated tumors. Although we found no statistically significant differences in p53 gene expression between groups of FIGO stage and histopathologic grade, we obtained a significant trend of increasing the P53 positive rate with both FIGO and tumour differentiation grading Joint assessment of thymidine phosphorylase and tumor suppressor genes expression may be of additional value in determining the biology of endometrial carcinoma.