Expression and Prognostic Significance of Wnt7a in Human Endometrial Carcinoma

Chunjie Peng,Qiuyan Wang,Lijuan Li,Xiaolei Zhang,Jianhua Zheng,Yujie Wang

doi:10.1155/2012/134962

Abstract

Introduction. Wnt7a is a secreted glycoprotein that regulates normal cellular proliferation and differentiation as well as tumorigenesis and progression. However, less is understood about the role of Wnt7a in human endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of Wnt7a in endometrial carcinoma. Methods. Wnt7a expression was immunohistochemically examined in 35 normal endometrium, 33 hyperplastic endometrium and 70 endometrial carcinomas. Results. Wnt7a expression was lower in endometrial carcinomas compared with that in normal and hyperplastic endometrium (P < 0.001). Wnt7a was inversely correlated with FIGO stage (P = 0.001), grade (P = 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002), depth of myometrial invasion (P = 0.006), lymph vascular space involvement (P = 0.001) and peritoneal cytology (P = 0.013). There was a negative correlation between estrogen receptor (ER) and Wnt7a (r = −0.281, P = 0.019), and a positive correlation between progestogen receptor (PR) and Wnt7a (r = 0.249, P = 0.037). Patients with lost or reduced Wnt7a expression had poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.005 and P = 0.042, resp.) on univariate analysis. But on multivariate analysis, Wnt7a expression was not an independent prognostic factor for PFS or OS. Conclusions. Our results indicate that Wnt7a expression may serve as an important prognostic marker.

Highlights

Wnt7a is a secreted glycoprotein that regulates normal cellular proliferation and differentiation as well as tumorigenesis and progression
Wnt7a expression was lower in endometrial carcinomas (26/70, 37.1%) compared with that in normal endometrium (31/35, 88.6%) and hyperplastic endometrium (26/33, 78.8%) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, resp.) (Figure 2)
Wnt7a expression was inversely correlated with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P = 0.001), grade (P = 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002), depth of myometrial invasion (P = 0.006), lymph vascular space (LVS) involvement (P = 0.001), and peritoneal cytology (P = 0.013) of endometrial carcinomas (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Wnt7a is a secreted glycoprotein that regulates normal cellular proliferation and differentiation as well as tumorigenesis and progression. Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract worldwide, and it is the seventh leading cause of death among women suffering from cancer [1, 2] This malignancy is diagnosed at an early stage and has a better prognosis than other cancers. Wnt proteins comprise a large family of secreted, highly conserved glycoproteins that exhibit pivotal role in early mammalian development. They are associated with important cellular process such as proliferation, differentiation, cell fate determination, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis [3,4,5]. When GSK3 is inactivated by Wnt signaling, cytoplasmic β-catenin accumulates and translocates to the nucleus, where it regulates target gene transcription depending on transcription factors, T cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)

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