CLINICO-MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF ENDOMETRIAL POLYP PATHOGENESIS IN POSTMENOPAUSE

Abstract

To study hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1α expression in endometrial polyps (EP) considering their clinical-morphological and immunological features during postmenopause. A complex clinical and laboratory examination of 120 postmenopausal patients was carried out. 90 of them developed EP, whereas 30 had morphologically unchanged endometrium. Immune histochemical (ICH) testing was used to evaluate HIF-1α expression in epithelial and stromal cells of polyps in adjacent and control endometrium. A complex of the most significant risk factors in EP genesis such as high rate of inflammatory disorders of genital organs (IDGO), extragenital, metabolic and endocrine disorders and intrauterine contraception (IUC) was found. High expression of HIF-1α in epithelial cells and in the area of inflammatory infiltrate of glandular fibrous EP stroma was established as compared with control endometrium. HIF-1α expression in epithelial cells and in the area of inflammatory infiltrate of EP glandular fibrous stroma against the background of inflammatory, metabolic and endocrine, immunological changes and age-related involutional processes indicated local hypoxia. Epigenetic changes can develop in the processes of proliferation and apoptosis and in the processes that control neoplastic transformation. The obtained data can provide grounds for patient-tailored EP therapy in postmenopausal patients.