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Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 1/2011

01-07-2011 | Gynecologic Oncology

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

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

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 1/2011

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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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Metadata
Title
Inhibin/activin-betaC subunit does not represent a prognostic parameter in human endometrial cancer
Authors
Stefanie D. Käufl
Christina Kuhn
Susanne Kunze
Naim Shabani
Ansgar Brüning
Klaus Friese
Ioannis Mylonas
Publication date
01-07-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1614-y

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