Endothelin Converting Enzyme-1 Expression in Endometrial Adenocarcinomas

• Published in: Cancer investigation Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 779 - 782
• Main Authors: Arun, Banu, Kilic, Gokhan, Ashfaq, Raheela, Saboorian, Hossein M., Gokaslan, Tunc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Informa UK Ltd 2001; Taylor & Francis; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - enzymology; Adult; Aged; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Endometrial cancer; Endometrial Neoplasms - enzymology; Endothelin converting enzyme-1; Endothelin-1 - biosynthesis; Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; Metalloendopeptidases; Middle Aged; Tumors; Adenocarcinoma; Human; Enzyme; Pathogenesis; Gene product; Tumoral tissue; Gene overexpression; Metalloendopeptidases; Biosynthesis; Endothelin 1; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Carcinogenesis; In vitro; Female genital diseases; Peptidases; Uterine diseases; Hydrolases; Female; Endothelin-converting enzyme 1; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0735-7907; 1532-4192
• DOI: 10.1081/CNV-100107738

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent mitogen in various precursor tumor cells, including endometrial adenocarcinoma. It is proposed that ET-1 produced by endometrial adenocarcinoma may participate in the angiogenesis of this carcinoma in vivo. Endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) is the key enzyme that synthesizes ET-1. In this study, we tried to demonstrate the expression of ECE-1 in endometrial carcinomas. Deparaffinized tissue sections from patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the presence of ECE-1. Our study showed that the expression of ECE-1 was markedly increased in 9 of 15 (60%) well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas; in contrast, only 2 out of 10 (20%) control specimens showed a mild labeling. With new selective inhibitory molecules emerging, research is currently evaluating the possible inhibition of ECE-1 as an alternative approach for the treatment of endometrial as well as other carcinomas.