EXPRESSION OF CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 AND AROMATASE IN ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA AND ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

Objective To study the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and aromatase in simple and complex endometrial hyperplasia,in atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma and their significance. Methods Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and aromatase were detected with immunohistochemistry(IHC) method in 94 cases,which included 10 normal controls,29 endometrial hyperplasia,17 atypical hyperplasia and 38 endometrial carcinoma. Results Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 in endometrial hyperplasia,atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma were higher than that of the controls(χ2=5.283-14.928,P0.05).Expression of aromatase in endometrial carcinoma was higher than that of the controls(χ2=9.023,P0.01),but the differences between the expressions of aromatase in endometrial hyperplasia,atypical hyperplasia,and the controls were not significant(P0.05).Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 positively correlated with aromatase expression in the case of endometrial carcinoma and carcinoma in situ(r=0.598,P0.01). Conclusion Cyclooxygenase-2 and aromatase may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma.