BACKGROUND: Endometrial carcinoma is a well known complex gynecological disorder. Our team suggests that this tumor is related to immortalization-up-regulated protein 1 and 2 (imup-1, imup-2), which are known to be involved in SV40-mediated immortalization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the mRNA expression levels and intracellular localization of imup-1 and imup-2 in endometrial carcinomas from Korean and Japanese patients. RESULTS: The imup-1 (4.1- and 23.6-fold) and imup-2 (4.8- and 2.7-fold) mRNA expression levels in endometrial carcinomas from both Korean and Japanese women were significantly higher than in normal endometrial tissues (p < 0.01). Strong expression of the IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 proteins were found in the tumor cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the up-regulation of imup-1 and imup-2 in human endometrial carcinomas and indicate that these molecules play a role in endometrial carcinogenesis in both Korean and Japanese patients.
BACKGROUND:Endometrial carcinoma is a well known complex gynecological disorder. Our team suggests that this tumor is related to immortalization-up-regulated protein 1 and 2 (imup-1, imup-2), which are known to be involved in SV40-mediated immortalization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the mRNA expression levels and intracellular localization of imup-1 and imup-2 in endometrial carcinomas from Korean and Japanese patients. RESULTS: The imup-1 (4.1- and 23.6-fold) and imup-2 (4.8- and 2.7-fold) mRNA expression levels in endometrial carcinomas from both Korean and Japanese women were significantly higher than in normal endometrial tissues (p < 0.01). Strong expression of the IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 proteins were found in the tumor cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the up-regulation of imup-1 and imup-2 in humanendometrial carcinomas and indicate that these molecules play a role in endometrial carcinogenesis in both Korean and Japanese patients.