open access

Vol 57, No 2 (2019)
Original paper
Submitted: 2019-05-17
Accepted: 2019-05-21
Published online: 2019-06-14
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WNT5A gene and protein expression in endometrial cancer

Tomasz Wasniewski1, Jacek Kiezun2, Bartlomiej E. Krazinski2, Anna E. Kowalczyk2, Blazej Szostak3, Piotr M. Wierzbicki4, Jolanta Kiewisz2
·
Pubmed: 31198984
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2019;57(2):84-93.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Obstetrics, Perinatology and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
  2. Department of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
  3. Department of Pathomorphology, Regional Specialist Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland
  4. Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

open access

Vol 57, No 2 (2019)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2019-05-17
Accepted: 2019-05-21
Published online: 2019-06-14

Abstract

Introduction. WNT5A (Wnt family member 5A) belongs to the WNT family of secreted signaling glycoproteins that play essential role in developmental, physiological and pathological processes. WNT5A was shown to take part in carcinogenesis process playing both oncogenic and suppressor functions in various types of human malignancies. This study aimed to assess the expression of the WNT5A gene at the mRNA and protein levels in the specimens derived from endometrial cancer (EC) or unchanged control endometrium. The associations between the WNT5A expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics and survival of EC patients were evaluated.

Materials and methods. Total RNA was isolated in order to assess the relative amounts of WNT5A mRNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) in samples of unchanged endometrial control (n = 8) and tumor samples of EC patients (n = 28). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine the presence of WNT5A protein in the sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens derived from unchanged endome­trial controls (n = 6) and EC tumors (n = 19). Significance of differences in WNT5A expression levels between the studied groups of EC patients and correlations between the WNT5A and demographic data, pathological features, hematological parameters and overall survival of the patients were evaluated by statistical analysis.

Results. The level of WNT5A mRNA was decreased in EC in comparison to unchanged endometrium. WNT5A expression was associated with primary tumor invasion status exhibiting reduced level of transcripts in EC that involved organs beyond the uterus when compared to the uterus-confined cancers. WNT5A immunoreactivity was visualized in the cytoplasm and nuclei of EC cells as well as in the luminal and glandular epithelial cells of unchanged endometrium. WNT5A mRNA expression levels correlated negatively with cytoplasmic, and positively with nuclear immunoreactivity of the WNT5A protein in the EC cells. In addition, the relationships between blood leucocyte count (in particular granulocytes and lymphocytes) of patients with EC and their WNT5A mRNA and protein expression levels were established. A positive correlation between the nuclear immunoexpression of WNT5A protein in the cancer cells in cell nuclei and mean platelet volume in blood was also found.

Conclusions. The results of the first study of WNT5A expression at the transcript and protein levels indicate that it could be considered as a potential marker of molecular changes that take place during EC development.

Abstract

Introduction. WNT5A (Wnt family member 5A) belongs to the WNT family of secreted signaling glycoproteins that play essential role in developmental, physiological and pathological processes. WNT5A was shown to take part in carcinogenesis process playing both oncogenic and suppressor functions in various types of human malignancies. This study aimed to assess the expression of the WNT5A gene at the mRNA and protein levels in the specimens derived from endometrial cancer (EC) or unchanged control endometrium. The associations between the WNT5A expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics and survival of EC patients were evaluated.

Materials and methods. Total RNA was isolated in order to assess the relative amounts of WNT5A mRNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) in samples of unchanged endometrial control (n = 8) and tumor samples of EC patients (n = 28). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine the presence of WNT5A protein in the sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens derived from unchanged endome­trial controls (n = 6) and EC tumors (n = 19). Significance of differences in WNT5A expression levels between the studied groups of EC patients and correlations between the WNT5A and demographic data, pathological features, hematological parameters and overall survival of the patients were evaluated by statistical analysis.

Results. The level of WNT5A mRNA was decreased in EC in comparison to unchanged endometrium. WNT5A expression was associated with primary tumor invasion status exhibiting reduced level of transcripts in EC that involved organs beyond the uterus when compared to the uterus-confined cancers. WNT5A immunoreactivity was visualized in the cytoplasm and nuclei of EC cells as well as in the luminal and glandular epithelial cells of unchanged endometrium. WNT5A mRNA expression levels correlated negatively with cytoplasmic, and positively with nuclear immunoreactivity of the WNT5A protein in the EC cells. In addition, the relationships between blood leucocyte count (in particular granulocytes and lymphocytes) of patients with EC and their WNT5A mRNA and protein expression levels were established. A positive correlation between the nuclear immunoexpression of WNT5A protein in the cancer cells in cell nuclei and mean platelet volume in blood was also found.

Conclusions. The results of the first study of WNT5A expression at the transcript and protein levels indicate that it could be considered as a potential marker of molecular changes that take place during EC development.

Get Citation

Keywords

WNT5A expression; endometrial cancer; platelets volume; QPCR; IHC

About this article
Title

WNT5A gene and protein expression in endometrial cancer

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 57, No 2 (2019)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

84-93

Published online

2019-06-14

Page views

2571

Article views/downloads

1483

DOI

10.5603/FHC.a2019.0010

Pubmed

31198984

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2019;57(2):84-93.

Keywords

WNT5A expression
endometrial cancer
platelets volume
QPCR
IHC

Authors

Tomasz Wasniewski
Jacek Kiezun
Bartlomiej E. Krazinski
Anna E. Kowalczyk
Blazej Szostak
Piotr M. Wierzbicki
Jolanta Kiewisz

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