OBJECTIVETo study the possible role of hTERT and c-myc in endometrial carcinogenesis.

METHODSThe expression of hTERT and c-myc mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization of endometrial samples from 14 cases with simple hyperplasia, 10 with complex hyperplasia, 8 with atypical hyperplasia and 42 with endometrioid carcinoma.

RESULTSExpression of hTERT was demonstrated in samples with simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma at frequencies of 2/14, 4/8, 8/10 and 39/42 (92.9%), respectively. The prevalence and intensity of the hTERT signal was greater in the carcinomas and lesions with atypical hyperplasia than those with simple or complex hyperplasia (P < 0.05). The expression of c-myc was demonstrated in samples with simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma at frequencies of 3/14, 1/8, 5/10 and 23/42 (54.8%), respectively. The frequency of c-myc expression was higher in carcinomas and hyperplastic lesions with atypia than those in lesions with simple or complex hyperplasia without atypia (P < 0.05). The expression of hTERT was shown to be correlated with the level of differentiation (P < 0.05), while the c-myc expression appeared to be associated with the depth of myometrial invasion (P < 0.05). The expression levels of hTERT and c-myc were not found to be correlated with each other in the tissues examined (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of hTERT and c-myc may be involved in the progression from the endometrial aypical hyperplasia to invasive carcinoma. The correlation between hTERT and c-myc in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma are not found.