The pathologic features and behavior of endometrial carcinoma associated with exogenous estrogen administration

Comparison of estrogen and progesterone receptor, Ki-67, and p53 immunoreactivity in uterine endometrioid carcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma with squamous, mucinous, secretory, and ciliated cell differentiation

An analysis of 77 uterine endometrioid carcinomas was performed to compare pure endometrioid carcinomas and endometrioid carcinomas with various types of cellular differentiation for the expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, p53, and Ki-67 and to correlate these findings with clinicopathologic features. Forty-three pure endometrioid carcinomas and 34 endometrioid carcinomas displaying additional types of cellular differentiation in at least 10% of the tumor (16 squamous, 11 mucinous, four ciliated cell, and three secretory) were analyzed. In 8 of the 16 tumors with squamous differentiation, the squamous component was histologically benign (low grade), and in eight tumors it was histologically malignant (high grade). In tumors showing various types of cellular differentiation except those with a high-grade squamous component, comparison of the endometrioid glandular component with the squamous, mucinous, secretory, and ciliated cell components showed that ER/PR, Ki-67, and p53 expression were generally higher in the glandular component compared with the various differentiated components. These findings parallel the changes that occur in the endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and, therefore, suggest that the differentiated components have undergone terminal differentiation. In contrast, in endometrioid carcinomas with a high-grade squamous component, Ki-67 and p53 expression were the same in the glandular and squamous components suggesting that squamous epithelium in these tumors represented another pathway of cellular differentiation but not one that was terminally differentiated. Endometrioid carcinomas with a high-grade squamous component had significantly higher grade (P = .002), stage (P < .001), cellular proliferation index (P = .0005), and worse outcome (P = .0009) compared with tumors with the other types of cellular differentiation, including those with a low-grade squamous component and pure low-grade endometrioid carcinomas. In addition, carcinomas with a high-grade squamous component occurred in older women and were more frequently associated with atrophic endometrium and less replacement hormone therapy, but the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, endometrioid carcinomas with various types of cellular differentiation can be broadly divided into two groups. Tumors with mucinous, secretory, and ciliated cell differentiation and those with a low-grade squamous component are similar to pure low-grade endometrioid carcinomas in that most have high ER and PR expression, low cellular proliferation indices, low p53 immunoreactivity, and good prognosis. In contrast, endometrioid carcinomas with a high-grade squamous component lack expression of ER and PR, have high cellular proliferation indices, often express p53, and have a prognosis similar to poorly differentiated endometrioid carcinomas.

The behavior of endometrial hyperplasia: a prospective study. Endometrial Hyperplasia Study Group

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the behavior of endometrial hyperplasia in a prospective study.

METHOD

Fifty-one patients with endometrial hyperplasia were followed up for 6 months. Samples of endometrial tissues were taken by uterine endometrial biopsy every 4 weeks during the first 3 months and at the end of follow-up.

RESULTS

In 69% (35/51) of the patients histological picture of the endometrium became normal during the observation period. The lesions persisted in 17% (6/35) of the patients with simple hyperplasia, in 25% (1/4) of those with complex hyperplasia, in 14% (1/7) of those with simple atypical hyperplasia, and in 80% (4/5) of the patients with complex atypical hyperplasia. In the remaining 3 patients with simple hyperplasia, the lesions progressed to complex atypical hyperplasia by the end of follow-up, after showing a normal endometrium.

CONCLUSION

Most cases of endometrial hyperplasia, except for complex atypical hyperplasia, disappeared spontaneously within a short period of time.

Two types of endometrial papillary neoplasm. A morphometric study

Fourteen cases of Papillary Endometrial Carcinoma (EC) were analyzed by Interactive Computerized Morphometry. Seven cases were diagnosed as well differentiated adenocarcinomas with papillary features (PF) and belonged to a group of EC with associated adenomatous hyperplasia (AH). Seven cases were diagnosed as uterine papillary serous carcinomas (PA) and belonged to a group of EC without associated AH. Two morphometric procedures were used. DRAW for the characterization of individual nuclei (area, perimeter, chord) and NU-MEAS for tissue architectural features (crowding and stratification). Using a stepwise discriminant multifactorial analysis, both methods proved to be accurate for the two diagnostic categories, as shown by the 100% posterior probabilities and by the two diagnostic categories, as shown by the 100% posterior probabilities and by the distances between group means. A doubtful case was analyzed and classified using a K-nearest neighbor procedure, compared to the individual case in the database. The distinction between the two types of papillary EC is important for the differential diagnosis of the two lesions. Well differentiated adenocarcinoma with papillary features is seen usually in the context of a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, in a group of patients known to have estrogen-related less aggressive tumors. Uterine papillary serous carcinoma was described to have a biological behavior similar to that of papillary ovarian carcinoma and is encountered in a group of patients with more invasive and less differentiated EC2. Computerized interactive morphometry is a valuable method to use for the accuracy of this differential diagnosis in doubtful cases.

Is the pineal gland involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma

The pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma, which is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female genital tract, is unknown. It is believed that a prolonged period of increased estrogenic exposure unopposed by progesterone may underlie the malignant transformation of the endometrial cells. In the following communication, we propose that deficient melatonin functions may be an additional endocrine factor implicated in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma. This hypothesis is based on the observations that: (a) melatonin has antiestrogenic properties; (b) melatonin stimulates progesterone production which opposes the action of estrogens; (c) an increased rate of endometrial hyperplasia, a premalignant condition, has been noted during the winter, a time of year associated with diminished melatonin secretion; (d) an increased incidence of anovulatory cycles, which is a risk factor for endometrial carcinoma, occurs in the winter; (e) melatonin secretion decreases sharply during the menopause, a period associated with an increased risk of endometrial carcinoma; (f) obesity, which is a major risk factor for endometrial carcinoma, is associated with impaired circadian melatonin secretion; (g) diabetes mellitus, which is an additional risk factor for endometrial carcinoma, is associated with decreased melatonin secretion and an increased rate of pineal calcification; and (h) the prevalence of endometrial carcinoma is lower in the black population compared to the white population. Similarly, the incidence of pineal calcification, which reflects the secretory activity of the gland, is significantly lower in the African and American black populations as compared to the white population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Histologic correlates and virulence implications of endometrial carcinoma associated with adenomatous hyperplasia

The association of endometrial carcinoma (EC) with endocrinopathies manifested by obesity, nulliparity, and/or increased estrogen levels of exogenous or endogenous estrogens is now well-known. EC is also seen in patients without these findings. Are these different cancers? Seventy-four cases of EC were reviewed and classified into two groups: group I, with associated adenomatous hyperplasia (AH), 31 cases; and group II, without associated AH, 43 cases. Group I included more well-differentiated and less invasive carcinomas; histologically, the pattern was glandular in all cases. In Group II, the EC were less well-differentiated, more invasive, and included, besides adenocarcinomas, clear-cell, papillary, and anaplastic carcinomas with giant tumor cells. Squamoid features were found in both groups. The possible existence of two types of EC, a hormonal-dependent EC associated with AH (which is believed to result from hyperestrogenism, and to have a better clinical prognosis), and an "independent" EC, not associated with AH, is discussed.

Endometrial carcinogenesis and its relation to oestrogens

The epidemiological evidence suggesting an association between the administration of exogenous oestrogens and an increased risk of developing endometrial adenocarcinoma is critically reviewed and it is concluded that the case for oestrogens being a cause of endometrial cancer is proven. The benefits flowing from preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis by oestrogen replacement therapy are assessed and contrasted with the danger to life posed by endometrial adenocarcinoma: it is pointed out that the type of neoplasm developing in patients taking oestrogens is well differentiated, nonaggressive and easily cured, the survival rate being very high. The addition of progestational agents to the therapeutic regime may prevent the development of endometrial carcinoma but could introduce a risk of cardiovascular disease.