An exploratory analysis of γ-synuclein expression in endometrioid endometrial cancer

Objective: This study aims to investigate the expression of gamma-synuclein in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma and assess if the gamma-synuclein expression correlates with the aggression of the tumour and its prognostic value in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Design: This retrospective study evaluated (60) specimens of the primary untreated endometrioid endometrial carcinoma and (12) normal endometrium tissues, and the expression of gamma-synuclein was checked by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between gamma-synuclein expression and the clinicopathological features of patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma was analysed, and SPSS V.13.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The expression of gamma-synuclein was positive in 48.3% (29/60) endometrioid endometrial carcinomas compared with the control group, and the difference was significant (p=0.001). The expression level of gamma-synuclein in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma was closely associated with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stages, the depth of myometrial invasion and lymph nodes metastases (p<0.05), but not correlated with the histopathological grades, the patient's age and the expression of ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) (p>0.05). In univariate and multivariate analyses, the gamma-synuclein expression was significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (95% Cl 1.429 to 101.892, p=0.020). Conclusions: This study suggests that the expression of gamma-synuclein is expected to be a useful marker for endometrioid endometrial carcinoma invasion, metastasis and prognosis in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.