Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its mRNA in uterine endometrial cancers

To evaluate the potential of growth, invasion and metastasis of endometrial cancer cells associated with neovascularization, the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and its mRNA in endometrial cancers and normal endometria as controls was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot. The relationship between FGF expression and histological grades, and the degree of myometrial invasion or clinical stages of endometrial cancers were analyzed. The level of basic FGF was found significantly higher in endometrial cancers of G3 and stage III-IV compared to normal endometria. Likewise, the level of basic FGF mRNA was significantly higher in endometrial cancers of G3, level C and stage II-IV compared to normal endometria. In cancers of other categories, G1 and G2, levels of A and B, and stage I, evaluation in the levels of basic FGF and its mRNA did not differ significantly from those in normal endometria. Since lethal lesions are mostly confined to endometrial cancers of G3, level C, and stages III-IV, the increase of basic FGF, which leads to neovascularization, could be one of the characteristics of highly malignant and/or advanced endometrial cancers, and may contribute to the acceleration of growth, invasion, and metastasis.