Cytoplasmic Keap1 Expression Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Endometrial Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Oxidative stress is involved in several carcinogenic pathways. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and Park7 (DJ-1) are the main regulators of antioxidant enzymes eliminating reactive oxidative species (ROS). The roles of these proteins were studied as potential prognostic factors in endometrial cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nrf2, Keap1 and DJ-1 expression in endometrial carcinomas was analyzed immunohistochemically. Correlations between staining patterns and clinical prognostic variables were evaluated.

RESULTS

Extensive cytoplasmic Keap1 staining correlated to several factors associated with poor prognosis of endometrial cancer including advanced stage, poor histological differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis and deep myometrial invasion. In multivariate analysis, cytoplasmic Keap1 was a stronger predictor of poor progression-free survival than grade. Nuclear Nrf2 staining was seen in all patients with lymph node metastasis while DJ-1 staining was associated with clinically favourable disease types.

CONCLUSION

Cytoplasmic Keap1 expression indicates poor prognosis in endometrial cancer.