Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of c-erbB-2 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in endometrial cancer and to elucidate the significance of the early diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer. The gene copy number of c‑erbB‑2 and MIF was characterized by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the reactivity was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 70 patients using a polyclonal antibody, and evaluated semiquantitatively according to the percentage of cells demonstrating membranous or diffuse cytoplasmic staining. A correlation between age, tumor stage, grade, myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis was observed. The mRNA expression of c‑erbB‑2 and MIF was high in endometrial carcinoma. The positive expression rate of MIF protein in normal endometrium, atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma significantly increased along with the degree of aggravation of the disease by 20 (3/15), 45 (9/20) and 70% (35/50), respectively. The positive expression of MIF and c‑erbB‑2 was highest in endometrial cancer and a significantly higher level of protein was observed in tumors at stage I, stage G1, with a depth of myometrial invasion <0.4 cm and no lymph node metastasis. The protein expression of c‑erbB‑2 in endometrial cancer was higher in tumors at the G2‑3 phase, clinical stage III‑IV, lymph node metastasis, and had no association with the depth of myometrial invasion and age. MIF and c‑erbB‑2 were correlated with the occurrence and the development of endometrial cancer, and thus can be used for the early diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer. The present study laid the foundation for identifying new treatments for endometrial cancer.