EXPRESSION OF NM23 NUCLEOSIDE DIPHOSPHATE KINASE-A PROTEIN IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA/

A metastatic tumor suppressor role for the nm23 gene product in breast carcinoma has been proposed. The biologic significance of mn23/NDP ki nase-A (NDPK-A) expression in endometrial carcinoma remains undetermin ed. We sought to (1) characterize the pattern and intensity of nm23 pr otein expression in endometrial carcinoma and (2) assess the relations hip between intensity/pattern of nm23 protein immunostaining and treat ment response assessed by progression-free survival and survival to de ath. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from 234 patients with endometrial cancer were immunostained with a mouse monoclonal IgG to n m23/NDPK-A protein. In most specimens of endometrial carcinoma (67.5%) , nm23 expression was strongly upregulated. No association was found b etween either intensity (0 vs 1, 2, 3) or pattern (nuclear membrane vs cytoplasmic) of immunostaining and FIGO stage, ploidy status, histolo gic subtype, myometrial invasion, progression-free survival, or surviv al to death. Absence of nm23 staining (0 vs 1, 2, 3) was significantly associated with lower tumor grades (P = 0.02). For stage I patients, moderate to strong nm23 immunostaining intensity (2, 3) was associated with a trend toward diminished progression-free survival (P = 0.08). Our data imply a heterogeneity of nm23 protein expression and possible distinct biologic roles for nm23 in endometrial compared with breast or ovarian carcinoma. (C) 1997 Academic Press.