Gene abnormalities predict endometrial cancer prognosis

The pathologic expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p16 in curettage specimens may identify high-risk endometrial carcinoma patients with a poor prognosis, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Ingeborg B. Engelsen, MD, of Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, and colleagues studied preoperative curettage material from a series of 236 endometrial carcinomas.

The researchers observed pathologic expression of p53 and p16 in 24% and 25%, respectively, of the specimens. They found a significant correlation between pathologic p53 expression and postmenopausal status, high-grade, high-tumor cell proliferation, and aneuploidy. Five-year survival rates in patients with pathologic expression of p53 and p16 were 51% and 50%, respectively, compared to 85% in patients with normal expression.

Engelsen IB, Stefansson I, Akslen LA, et al. Pathologic expression of p53 or p16 in preoperative curretage specimens identifies high-risk endometrial carcinomas. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;195:979-986.