Blood group antigens SLeX, SLeA, and LeY as prognostic markers in endometrial cancer

PURPOSE: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer worldwide. Treatment has been improved in recent years, but, in advanced stages, therapeutical options are still limited. It has been reported that the expression of the blood group antigens Sialyl Lewis X (SLeX), Sialyl Lewis A (SLeA) and Lewis Y (LeY) is associated with prognosis in several tumors. Large studies on endometrial and cervical cancer are still pending. METHODS: Specimens of 234 patients with EC were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies for SLeX, SLeA and LeY. Expression was correlated to histopathological variables. RESULTS: High expression of SLeX was correlated to low pT-stage (p = 0.013), low grade (p < 0.001), low FIGO-stage (p = 0.006) and better overall survival rates (OS; p = 0.023). High expression of SLeA was associated with low pT-stage (p = 0.013), low grade (p = 0.001) and better progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.043). LeY staining was correlated to pN + (p = 0.038), low grade (p = 0.005) and poorer PFS (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: This is the first study examining the expression of SLeX, SLeA and LeY in EC, which can serve as additional future prognostic markers. Further studies are necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (reference number 19-249). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-022-04098-8.