Decreased expression of survivin, estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometrial tissues after radiofrequency treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the research is to study the histopathology and expression of survivin, estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) in the endometrium of patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) treated with radiofrequency endometrial ablation (REA). METHODS: A total of 98 DUB patients were enrolled in this case–control study. Among them, 66 underwent REA treatment and 32 optioned for hormone therapy as the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis for survivin, ER and PR expression was carried out on endometrial tissue samples collected before and 6 to 7 months after treatment for both groups. RESULTS: Both hormone and REA treatment ameliorated menstrual bleeding of DUB patients, with the latter showing a significantly higher effective rate. Endometrial surface tissue was replaced by fibrosis tissue in the REA treatment group. REA treatment also significantly reduced the expression of survivin, ER, and PR. Endometrial surface tissues collected from the hormone-treated control group neither showed any apparent morphological alteration nor in the expression of those receptors. CONCLUSIONS: REA treatment changed endometrial surface tissue type from gland rich to gland poor, and significantly decreased the expression of survivin, ER, and PR. This may be an important contributing mechanism for the long-term curative effect and prevention of DUB recurrence.