Endothelin converting enzyme-1 expression in endometrial adenocarcinomas

Banu Arun, Gokhan Kilic, Raheela Ashfaq, Hossein M. Saboorian, Tunc Gokaslan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent mitogen in various precursor tumor cells, including endometrial adenocarcinoma. It is proposed that ET-1 produced by endometrial adenocarcinoma may participate in the angiogenesis of this carcinoma in vivo. Endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) is the key enzyme that synthesizes ET-1. In this study, we tried to demonstrate the expression of ECE-1 in endometrial carcinomas. Deparaffinized tissue sections from patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the presence of ECE-1. Our study showed that the expression of ECE-1 was markedly increased in 9 of 15 (60%) well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas; in contrast, only 2 out of 10 (20%) control specimens showed a mild labeling. With new selective inhibitory molecules emerging, research is currently evaluating the possible inhibition of ECE-1 as an alternative approach for the treatment of endometrial as well as other carcinomas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)779-782
Number of pages4
JournalCancer Investigation
Volume19
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Endometrial cancer
  • Endothelin converting enzyme-1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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