EXPRESSION OF NM23-H1 AND NM23-H2 PROTEIN IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

nm23 gene expression has been shown to be inversely correlated with tu mour metastatic potential in some cancers but not in others. Examinati on was made of the expression of nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 gene products by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in 28 endomentrial carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry indicated the cytoplasm of cancer cells to be po sitive, and myometrium and endometrial stromal cells negative, for nm2 3-H1 and -H2 protein. The staining intensity for these proteins was si gnificantly stronger in well-differentiated adenocarcinomas (G1) than in those moderately differentiated (G2) (P<0.05). nm23-H1 and -H2 prot eins were shown by immunoblotting to be present at significantly highe r levels in G1 than in G2 tumours (P<0.05). Two of eight cases express ed high nm23-H1 and -H2 protein in poorly differentiated adenocarcinom as (G3). In G3 tumours, nm23 expression may be diverse. In this study, the expression of nm23-H1 and -H2 was not correlated with stage, meta stasis, tumour size, myometrial invasion, oestrogen receptor, progeste rone receptor or menopause. It follows from the findings presented abo ve that the high expression of nm23-H1 and -H2 is positively correlate d with histological differentiation.