Disturbed expression of phase I and II estrogen-metabolizing enzymes in endometrial cancer: Lower levels of CYP1B1 and increased expression of S-COMT

Neli Hevir (1) , Jasna Šinkovec (2) , Tea Lanišnik Rižner (1)

1 Faculty of Medicine
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Expression levels of genes encoding phase I and II estrogen-metabolizing enzymes: , and were studied by real-time PCR in 38 samples of cancerous and adjacent control endometrium. We found significantly lower levels of and , higher levels of , and , and no differences in expression of , , , and in the endometrial cancers. The CYP1B1 and COMT proteins were also examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining, supporting the real-time PCR analysis. Lower levels of CYP1B1 detected in cancerous endometrium suggest its important role in control, precancerous tissue. Additionally, we showed for the first time higher protein levels of soluble COMT in cancerous endometrium, and higher levels of membrane-bound COMT in control, precancerous endometrium. The importance of the changed ratio between soluble and membrane-bound COMT still needs to be evaluated in further studies.

Mots clés: Endometrial cancer; Estrogen-metabolizing enzymes; Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1); Catechol-O-methyltransferase

Neli Hevir, Jasna Šinkovec, Tea Lanišnik Rižner. Disturbed expression of phase I and II estrogen-metabolizing enzymes in endometrial cancer: Lower levels of CYP1B1 and increased expression of S-COMT. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2010, 331 (1), pp.158. ⟨10.1016/j.mce.2010.09.011⟩. ⟨hal-00639772⟩