The expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 in endometrial carcinoma and its significance

Objective To investigate the expression of aromatase P450 in endometrial carcinoma and evaluate its clinical significance in the early diagnosis and treatment of the malignancy. Methods The expressions of aromatase P450, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected using immunohistochemical S-P method in 50 patients with endometrial carcinoma. Thirty cases of cervical carcinoma in situ were used as control. Results The positive rate of aromatase P450 expression differed significantly between endometrial carcinoma and cervical carcinoma in situ (92% vs. 0%) and it was nonsignificantly associated with stage, degree of cell differentiation, and presence or absence of lymph node metastases. There was no positive correlation between aromatase P450 and ER or PR. Conclusion The aberrant expression of aromatase P450 is related to the genesis of endometrial carcinoma, suggesting that aromatase P450 may be one of the biochemical markers in the early endometrial carcinogenesis. P450 enzyme inhibitors may become a novel therapy for endometrial carcinoma.