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This study was conducted to evaluate the significance of circulating free DNA (CFDNA), p53 antibody (p53-Ab) and mutations of KRAS gene in the development of endometrial cancer (EC). A total of 109 patients with EC (87 patients with Type I and 22 patients with Type II) took part in this study. KRAS mutations and CFDNA were detected by means of the PCR-RFLP and enriched by the PCR-RFPL method. ELISA was used to analyze plasma p53-Ab. Tissue expression of P53 protein was evaluated immunohistochemically (IHC). The frequency of KRAS mutations was especially high in Grade 2 of Type I EC. CFDNA was frequently detected in patients with early stage of Type II EC at a low level of grade. It is noteworthy that the p53-Ab positive rate increased in the higher grade of Type I tumors. A significant difference in the number of cases with the p53-Ab was found in the advanced stage of Type I tumors. The frequency of KRAS and p53-Ab correlates with tumor stage only in the Type I EC. Plasma CFDNA and p53-Ab offer a chance to develop a procedure for EC Type II diagnosis. The association between tumor cells related to CFDNA and p53-Ab with Type II tumor suggests that it might potentially serve as a marker in predicting the prognosis and offers a possibility to individualize treatment regimen.

Abstract:The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinicopathological significance of KRAS point mutation in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. We analysed KRAS in 11 cases of complex atypical hyperplasia and in 49 endometrial carcinomas using polymerase chain reaction associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFPL). Point mutations at codon 12 of KRAS oncogene were identified in 7 of 49 (14.3%) tumor specimens and in 2 of 11 (18.2%) hyperplasias. No correlation was found between KRAS gene mutation and age at onset, histology, grade of differentiation and clinical stage. We conclude that KRAS mutation is a relatively common event in endometrial carcinogenesis, but with no prognostic value.

Oestrogens act on target cells through α and β receptors (ERα and ERβ). Expression of oestrogen receptors is associated with the age and menopausal condition of women.The aim of the study was an immunohistochemical evaluation of ERα and ERβ receptors in epithelium of the vaginal mucous membrane of women subjected to different forms of hormonal therapy (HTM).Oestrogen receptors ERα and ERβ were identified using immunohistochemical methods and evaluated in smears of vaginal mucous membranes collected from 60 patients subjected to HTM (including 20 patients after oral therapy, 20 patients after transdermal therapy, and 20 patients after vaginal therapy). The results showed a significant change in immunoreactivity of both studied receptors after three months of hormone therapy. The biggest differences in the changes of intensity of ERα and ERβ reactions were observed in patients subjected to vaginal therapy. Immunostaining for α receptor showed differences between three types of hormone therapy. The highest increase in the overall intensity occurred after three months of topical therapy. Immunostaining for Erβ also varied for different types of hormone therapy.The results indicate that hormone therapy administered vaginally is the most effective in the treatment of urogenital ailments during menopause. In addition, topical therapy eliminates adverse effects of systemic oestrogen.

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