Objectives: FOXA1 expression has been demonstrated in several hormone-dependent cancers. However, data are limited concerning the role of FOXA1 in endometrial cancers. The present study aimed to investigate FOXA1 expression via the microarray technique in benign hyperplasia, endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, and endometrial endometrioid carcinoma. We also aimed to determine whether there were any associations between FOXA1 expression, tumor grade, myometrial invasion and lymphatic invasion.
Material and methods: Paraffin-embedded sections prepared from samples obtained from 114 patients who underwent surgical hysterectomy or curettage were analyzed. Data were retrieved from digitally-stored medical records. Tissue microarrays were prepared from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. Full tumor sections were used for immunohistochemical analysis performed.
Results: Carcinomas with nuclear grade 3 had higher FOXA1 values than others, while grade 2 carcinomas also had higher FOXA1 values relative to grade 1 (p < 0.001). FOXA1 values of FIGO stage III carcinomas were significantly higher than others and stage II values were also significantly higher than stage I FOXA1 values (p < 0.001). Patients with myometrial and lymph node invasion had significantly higher FOXA1 values than others (p < 0.001 and p = 0.047, respectively). FOXA1 had 91.30% sensitivity, 63.60% specificity and 77.78% accuracy for predicting the presence of myometrial invasion with a cut-off value of 9.
Conclusions: FOXA1 expression is higher in endometrial endometrioid carcinoma compared to benign endometrial hyperplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia. In patients with endometrial endometrioid carcinoma, high FOXA1 expression is associated with high tumor grade, myometrial and lymph node invasion. However, FOXA1 expression is not associated with lymphovascular or cervical invasion.