Correlation between transcription factor activator protein-2β (TFAP-2β) and endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between transcription factor activator protein-2β (TFAP-2β) and endometrial carcinoma (EC).

METHODS

The study comprised 60 randomly selected patients diagnosed and treated at the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from November 2011 to June 2012 for endometrial carcinoma (n = 30) and myoma of uterus (n = 30). The expression of TFAP-2Pβ mRNA in endometrial carcinoma was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and venous blood samples were obtained before abdominal surgery clinically.

RESULTS

The expression of TFAP-2β mRNA in endometrial tissue of patients with EC was higher than that of normal endometrium (p < 0.05). The expression of TFAP-2β mRNA in endometrial tissue of patients with metabolism syndrome was higher than that of lean ones (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of TFAP-2β mRNA in endometrial tissue between patients with both EC and metabolism syndrome and in those with EC only. The expression levels of TFAP-2β mRNA had positive correlation with triglyceride (r = 0.271, p < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.314, p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the expression of TFAP-2β mRNA and CA125, fasting plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), waist circumference, total cholesterol, and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

TFAP-2β constituted promoter activity in EC and also contributed to the development of the metabolic syndrome. TFAP-2β may influence the oc- currence and development of EC through regulating the expression of various adipokines and lipoprotein metabolism. Probably TFAP-2β can be a candidate tumor marker for EC.