Pilot study evaluating presence of crown-like structures in high grade endometrial carcinoma.

Abstract

e16504 Background: Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of Type I & II endometrial cancer (EC), decreased recurrence-free interval, and significantly increased mortality rate in EC. Obesity-induced pro-inflammatory state, hyperglycemia, elevated IGF-1, and subsequent mTOR pathway activation are all implicated in endometrial carcinogenesis. Crown-like structures (CLS), consisting of dead or dying adipocytes surrounded by macrophages, are a marker of obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation (WATi). Their presence in EC has never been examined. Methods: From 2009-2012, women with stage III or IV Grade 3 endometrioid or serous EC who underwent primary surgery at MSKCC and consented to an institutional tissue-banking protocol were identified. WAT was examined in perinodal tissue and omentum and subjected to immunostain with the macrophage marker, CD68, in order to detect CLS by light microscopy. WAT area was measured with NIH Image J in order to provide a standardized measurement...