Longstanding survival without cancer progression in a patient affected by endometrial carcinoma treated primarily with leuprolide

We report here a case of a patient affected by endometrial cancer and treat ed primarily with leuprolide, the surgical approach being unfeasible due to her compromised conditions. The therapy was continued for more than 6 year s, and no progression of the disease was observed. During this period, some histological and immunohistochemical evaluations of the tumour (morphology , grading, proliferation and apoptotic index, E-cadherin expression) were p erformed. Furthermore, the expression of m-RNA for luteinizing-hormone rele asing hormone (LHRH) receptors was determined. The results showed a discrep ancy between some biological parameters of the tumour and its clinical char acteristics. In fact, despite features suggestive of a progression of the c ancer (such as the increase of both tumour grading and proliferating capaci ty (MIB-1), and a fall in the reparative process (appearance of mutated p53 , reduced expression of both bcl-2 and c-erb-2) being detected, neither loc al invasion nor metastatic lesions were clinically observed. This discrepan cy might be due to the maintenance of high levels of E-cadhezin. Moreover, since this tumour was shown to express mRNA for LHRH receptors, new evidenc e is provided about the favourable impact of LHRH analogue treatment in pat ients affected by endometrial cancer. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.