Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and survivin in endometrioid and nonendometrioid endometrial cancers and clinicopathologic significance

OBJECTIVE: To determine matrix metalloproteinase-2 and survivin expressions in endometrial cancers, their relation to clinical and histologic parameters and to investigate any difference in the expression of these markers between endometrioid and nonendometrioid cancers. METHODS: Ninety-five patients with endometrial cancer, were included. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and survivin expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically from paraffin-embedded tissues by using specific monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Survivin nuclear expression was higher in endometrioid cancer as compared to nonendometrioid cancer (p=0.040), but there was no difference for cytoplasmic survivin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expressions between type I and type II carcinomas. Survivin cytoplasmic staining was significantly lower in patients with deep myometrial invasion (p=0.038). Nuclear expression of survivin is decreased in histologic grade 3 tumors compared to grade 1 and 2 tumors (p=0.013), but there is no difference between grade 1 and 2. We did not find any statistically significant difference between survivin or matrix metalloproteinase-2 expressions and survival. CONCLUSION: Survivin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 are present in endometrioid and nonendometrioid cancers. Grade 1 and 2 tumors and carcinomas having myometrial invasion less than 50% have higher survivin expression. These results supports that, survivin may play an important role in early stage tumors and early phases of tumor development. We did not find any association between matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and classical prognostic factors in endometrial cancer and both proteins were not associated with survival.