The Roles Of PI3K/Akt Signal Pathway In Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Of Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

ObjectiveTo analyze the expression of p-Akt,E-cadherin and Vimentin protein in different endometrial tissues and to investigate the role and clinical significance of PI3K/Akt pathway in endometrial adenocarcinoma epithelial-mesenchymal transition,providing the new basis for the development of endometrial cancer screening methods and treatment strategy.MethodsRandomly selected 12 normal endometrium specimens,16 endometrium hyperplasia tissues and 32 endometrial adenocarcinoma specimens.The expression levels of p-Akt,E-cadherin and Vimentin was tested by using immunohistochemistry,and then the corelation of them in three different endometrial tissue and the relationship between each other in endometrial adenocarcinoma specimens in FIGO stage,depth of myometrial invasion,histological grade,lymph node metastasis and the relationship of p-Akt,E-cadherin and Vimentin were analyzed by using correlation statistical analysis.Results1.p-Akt and Vimentin were mainly expressed in the cytoplasm,they all expressed low in normal endometrium specimens and expressed high in endometrial adenocarcinoma specimens.E-cadherin was mainly expressed in the cytomembrane,it expressed high in normal endometrium specimens and expressed low in endometrial adenocarcinoma specimens.The positive rate of p-Akt expression in normal endometrium tissues,endometrium hyperplasia tissues and endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues were16.7%,37.5%,75.0% respectively.It expressed increased gradually,which were statistical significant(?2=14.129,P<0.05).The positive rate of Vimentin expression in normal endometrium tissues,endometrium hyperplasia tissues and endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues were 91.7%,62.5%,21.9% respectively.It expressed decreased gradually,which were statistical significant(?2=19.277,P<0.05).The positive rate of Vimentinexpression in normal endometrium tissues,endometrium hyperplasia tissues and endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues were 25.00%,43.75%,81.25% respectively.It expressed increased gradually,which were statistical significant(?2=13.906,P<0.05).Futher compared between each other,there were statistical significance in the positive expression rate between endometrial carcinoma and normal endometrium(P<0.0167),there were statistical significance in the positive expression rate between endometrial carcinoma andendometrial atypical hyperplasia group,too(P<0.0167).However,there was no statistical significance in the positive expression rate between endometrial atypical hyperplasia and normal endometrium group(P>0.0167).2.The expression of p-Akt and Vimentin in endometrial carcinoma were increased with the progression of disease,there were significant difference in pathological stage and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05),and there was no statistical significance in the myometrial invasion,histologic grades(P>0.05).The expression of E-cadherin in endometrial cancer was decreased with the progression of disease,there were significant difference in pathological stage and lymph node metastasis and myometrial invasion(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the histologic grades(P>0.05).3.The positive expression of P-Akt,E-cadherin and Vimentin in endometrial carcinoma were75%,21.88%,81.25%.The Spearman correlation analysis showed that the expression of P-Akt in endometrial carcinoma was positively correlated with Vimentin(r=0.462,P<0.05),and the expression of P-Akt in endometrial carcinoma was negatively correlated with E-cadherin(r=-0.0567,P<0.05).Conclusions1.PI3K/Akt signal pathway mediated EMT process is clear.2.PI3K/Akt signal pathway may promote the developmen and metastasis of endometrial carcinoma through mediating the EMT process.