<i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance
Background: The inappropriate action of WNT4 and estrogens affects uterine homeostasis and function, and may lead to endometrial cancer (EC). Objective: The aim was to evaluate the alterations of <i>WNT4</i> gene expression and WNT4 protein immunoreactivity (Ir) in EC, considering tumor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4780 |
| _version_ | 1797576101738840064 |
|---|---|
| author | Jolanta Kiewisz Tomasz Waśniewski Jacek Kieżun Agnieszka Skowrońska Monika M. Kaczmarek Błażej Szóstak Anna E. Kowalczyk Zbigniew Kmieć |
| author_facet | Jolanta Kiewisz Tomasz Waśniewski Jacek Kieżun Agnieszka Skowrońska Monika M. Kaczmarek Błażej Szóstak Anna E. Kowalczyk Zbigniew Kmieć |
| author_sort | Jolanta Kiewisz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The inappropriate action of WNT4 and estrogens affects uterine homeostasis and function, and may lead to endometrial cancer (EC). Objective: The aim was to evaluate the alterations of <i>WNT4</i> gene expression and WNT4 protein immunoreactivity (Ir) in EC, considering tumor characteristics, the clinicopathological association and estrogen dependence. Methods: <i>WNT4</i> mRNA levels were compared between benign (control) endometrium (<i>n</i> = 8) and endometroid EC (EEC) and non-endometroid EC (non-EEC) samples (<i>n</i> = 28) using the real-time PCR technique. The WNT4-Ir and ERα-Ir were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). <i>WNT4</i> mRNA gene and WNT4-Ir were correlated with clinicopathological and blood morphological parameters. Overall survival (OS) was assessed. The bioanalysis was utilized to study WNT4 expression in large patient cohort (<i>n</i> = 549). Results: <i>WNT4</i> gene expression was decreased in EC samples (specifically in EEC but not in non-EEC) compared to the control. The <i>WNT4</i> gene expression was also decreased in EC samples categorized by the tumor characteristics. There was no statistical difference in WNT4-Ir or ERα-Ir between the control and EC. There was no correlation between OS and <i>WNT4</i> gene expression and WNT4-Ir. Bioanalysis showed that <i>WNT4</i> and <i>ESR1</i> gene expression alterations tended to be mutually exclusive. An alteration in <i>WNT4</i> expression was found in different histological tumor types in a large group of EC patients. Conclusions: There is a great need to evaluate the molecular background of EC. Our study suggests that the <i>WNT4</i> gene has the potential to be a marker of functional estrogen signaling in EEC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:47:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6694e0d9b74440a581379805dfb04f4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:47:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-6694e0d9b74440a581379805dfb04f4f2023-11-19T14:10:27ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-09-011519478010.3390/cancers15194780<i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its SignificanceJolanta Kiewisz0Tomasz Waśniewski1Jacek Kieżun2Agnieszka Skowrońska3Monika M. Kaczmarek4Błażej Szóstak5Anna E. Kowalczyk6Zbigniew Kmieć7Department of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Hormonal Action Mechanisms, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Science, 10-748 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Pathomorphology, The Regional Specialist Hospital, 10-561 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandBackground: The inappropriate action of WNT4 and estrogens affects uterine homeostasis and function, and may lead to endometrial cancer (EC). Objective: The aim was to evaluate the alterations of <i>WNT4</i> gene expression and WNT4 protein immunoreactivity (Ir) in EC, considering tumor characteristics, the clinicopathological association and estrogen dependence. Methods: <i>WNT4</i> mRNA levels were compared between benign (control) endometrium (<i>n</i> = 8) and endometroid EC (EEC) and non-endometroid EC (non-EEC) samples (<i>n</i> = 28) using the real-time PCR technique. The WNT4-Ir and ERα-Ir were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). <i>WNT4</i> mRNA gene and WNT4-Ir were correlated with clinicopathological and blood morphological parameters. Overall survival (OS) was assessed. The bioanalysis was utilized to study WNT4 expression in large patient cohort (<i>n</i> = 549). Results: <i>WNT4</i> gene expression was decreased in EC samples (specifically in EEC but not in non-EEC) compared to the control. The <i>WNT4</i> gene expression was also decreased in EC samples categorized by the tumor characteristics. There was no statistical difference in WNT4-Ir or ERα-Ir between the control and EC. There was no correlation between OS and <i>WNT4</i> gene expression and WNT4-Ir. Bioanalysis showed that <i>WNT4</i> and <i>ESR1</i> gene expression alterations tended to be mutually exclusive. An alteration in <i>WNT4</i> expression was found in different histological tumor types in a large group of EC patients. Conclusions: There is a great need to evaluate the molecular background of EC. Our study suggests that the <i>WNT4</i> gene has the potential to be a marker of functional estrogen signaling in EEC.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4780WNT4estrogenendometrial cancerqPCRIHC |
| spellingShingle | Jolanta Kiewisz Tomasz Waśniewski Jacek Kieżun Agnieszka Skowrońska Monika M. Kaczmarek Błażej Szóstak Anna E. Kowalczyk Zbigniew Kmieć <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance Cancers WNT4 estrogen endometrial cancer qPCR IHC |
| title | <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance |
| title_full | <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance |
| title_fullStr | <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance |
| title_short | <i>WNT4</i> Gene and Protein Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Significance |
| title_sort | i wnt4 i gene and protein expression in endometrial cancer and its significance |
| topic | WNT4 estrogen endometrial cancer qPCR IHC |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4780 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jolantakiewisz iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT tomaszwasniewski iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT jacekkiezun iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT agnieszkaskowronska iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT monikamkaczmarek iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT błazejszostak iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT annaekowalczyk iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance AT zbigniewkmiec iwnt4igeneandproteinexpressioninendometrialcanceranditssignificance |