Expression of matriptase and clinical outcome of human endometrial cancer

Background: Matriptase, a type II transmembrane serine protease is involved in angiogenesis, degradation of extracellular matrix and in progression of some epithelial cancers. The purpose of the present study was to examine matriptase expression and evaluate its clinicopathological significance in endometrial cancer. Patients and Methods: Matriptase expression was examined in normal endometrium (n=20), endometrial hyperplasia (n=11) and endometrial cancer (n=65) samples. The distribution of cases that scored positive for each of the biological parameters examined was correlated with matriptase expression status obtained by immunohistochemistry. Results: Matriptase was found to be significantly overexpressed in endometrial cancer as compared with normal endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia. Interestingly, matriptase expression is associated with stage (p=0.010), grade (p=0.021), depth of myometrial invasion (p=0.004), cervical involvement (p=0.021), lymph node metastasis (p=0.009), LVS involvement (p=0.041) and peritoneal cytology (p=0.045). The high matriptase expression was a significant predictor for poor prognosis when compared with low matriptase expression (Disease-free survival rate; p=0.032, Overall survival rate; p=0.011). Conclusion: High matriptase expression in endometrial cancer may be associated with poor prognosis.