DECREASED EXPRESSION OF MESSENGER-RNAS ENCODING ENDOTHELIN RECEPTORS AND NEUTRAL ENDOPEPTIDASE-24.11 IN ENDOMETRIAL-CANCER

In this study, we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to compare the expression of mRNAs encoding endothelin-1 (ET -1), endothelin receptors type A (ET(A)-R) and type B (ET(B)-R) and ET -1-degrading enzyme neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) in 15 endometria l cancer tissues and 13 normal endometrial tissues. The relative level s of ET-1 mRNA in endometrial cancer tissues did not differ from those in normal endometrium. Both ET(A)-R and ET(B)-R mRNA levels were sign ificantly lower in endometrial cancer tissue than in normal endometriu m (P < 0.001). The complete lack of NEP mRNA in endometrial cancer tis sues was in marked contrast to results from normal endometrium (P < 0. 001). In conclusion, differential expression of mRNAs encoding ET-R an d NEP in normal endometrium and endometrial cancer suggests that ET ac tion is altered in endometrial cancer compared with normal endometrium .