Serum adiponectin in relation to endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in obese women.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to compare concentrations of adiponectin in the serum of obese women with endometrial cancer, endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, and normal endometrium.

METHODS

We enrolled 105 obese women treated at the Department of Gynecological Surgery and Oncology of Adults and Adolescents. The patients were allocated to groups depending on the histological diagnosis (R - endometrial cancer, P - polyps, K - normal endometrium). We subdivided group R depending on the stage and grade of cancer.

RESULTS

Significantly lower concentrations of adiponectin were found in patients with endometrial cancer (mean 15.28 microg/ml) as compared with polyps (29.94 microg/ml, p < 0.001) or normal endometrium (22.7 microg/ml, p < 0.05). Stage of cancer had no significant effect on the adiponectin level. When cancer grade was compared, lower levels of adiponectin were observed in patients with G3 (12.86 microg/ml) than G1 (19.04 microg/ml, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced levels of adiponectin may represent an independent risk factor for endometrial cancer.