Overexpression of connective tissue growth factor is associated with tumor progression and unfavorable prognosis in endometrial cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Li, Xue-Ting^a | Li, Jia-Yu^a | Zeng, Guang-Chun^b | Lu, Li^c | Jarrett, Michael J.^d | Zhao, Ye^e | Yao, Qing-Zhou^d | Chen, Xiuwei^f | Yu, Kai-Jiang^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Intensive Care Unit, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China | [b] Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China | [c] Department of Urology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | [d] Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80045, USA | [e] Department of Pathology, Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519020, China | [f] Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Kai-Jiang Yu, Department of Intensive Care Unit, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University; NO.150, Haping ST, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China. Tel.: +86 451 86298036; Fax: +86 451 86298036; E-mail: kaijiangyu2019@gmail.com.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study was to explore the prognostic value of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in endometrial cancer (EC). METHODS: We compared CTGF expression in 198 samples from patients with endometrial cancer and 50 samples from patients with healthy endometrial tissues as determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Expression of CTGF was significantly higher in endometrial cancers as compared to normal endometrial tissues. Positive CTGF expression displayed a strong association with CA125 level, histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. Our findings revealed histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion, FIGO stage, vascular/lymphatic invasion, and the CTGF expression are related to 5-year survival in patients with endometrial cancer. Positive CTGF expression, lymph node status, as well as vascular/lymphatic invasion, were identified as independent prognostic factors in endometrial cancer. CONCLUTIONS: Over-expression of CTGF is an independent prognostic factor that will allow the successful differentiation of high-risk population from the group of patients with stage III-IV endometrial cancer. The up-regulation of CTGF may contribute to the progression of endometrial cancer and serve as a new prognostic biomarker in patients with endometrial cancer survival.

Keywords: Endometrial cancer, CTGF, immunohistochemistry, normal endometrial tissues

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-190099

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 295-302, 2019