STUDY OF EXPRESSION OF PTEN IN ENDOMETRIUM AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: To study the expression of PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin homologue) in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium by immunohistochemistry in normal to neoplastic endometrial lesions including endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) sections of spectrum of endometrium in hundred different cases were taken from secretory phase to endometrial carcinoma and subjected to Immunohistochemistry using PTEN. Results: Immunoreactivity was taken as positive when a brown colour was noted in the nuclei or cytoplasm with intensity of staining being graded from 0 to 3+. Also if <10% of cells were positive a score of 0 was given, if 11 % to 30% cell were positive a score of 1+ , 31% to 60 % positive, a score as 2+ and > 60% positive cells a score of 3+ was given. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-Square test and significant differences were noted between these 3 groups (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: A decreased expression of PTEN is a marker of the earliest endometrial premalignant lesions, and therefore we in our study suggest that PTEN immunostaining can be helpful in identifying premalignant conditions that are likely to progress to carcinoma.