Expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A in endometrial carcinomas: clinicopathologic correlations and prognostic significance

Virchows Arch. 2010 Apr;456(4):387-93. doi: 10.1007/s00428-010-0895-7. Epub 2010 Mar 16.

Abstract

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) is necessary for both transcription and maintenance of mitochondrial DNA. This study was conducted to elucidate the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of mtTFA in patients with endometrial carcinoma. This study investigated the relationship between the immunohistochemical expression of mtTFA and various clinicopathological variables in 276 endometrial carcinomas, including 245 endometrioid adenocarcinomas and 31 nonendometrioid carcinomas (21 serous carcinomas and 10 clear cell adenocarcinomas). Both uni- and multivariate regression analyses were performed. The mtTFA labeling index of endometrioid adenocarcinomas ranged from 0% to 98%, with a median value of 32%, which was selected as the cut-off point for mtTFA expression. The mtTFA expression in endometrioid adenocarcinomas was significantly associated with the surgical stage, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, cervical invasion, and lymph node metastasis. In contrast, no correlation between clinicopathologic variables and mtTFA expression was found in nonendometrioid carcinomas. Correlation analysis between mtTFA and p53 expression by using the Pearson test showed significant correlation in endometrioid adenocarcinomas (P = 0.007), but no significant correlation in nonendometrioid carcinomas (P = 0.947). A univariate survival analysis showed that the 10-year overall survival rate of the patients with mtTFA-positive endometrioid adenocarcinoma was significantly worse than that of patients with mtTFA-negative endometrioid adenocarcinoma (80.8% vs. 93.8%, P = 0.012). However, the multivariate analysis revealed that mtTFA expression in endometrioid adenocarcinomas was no independent prognostic factor. The positive mtTFA expression is a useful maker for progression of the tumors and the poor prognosis of the patients in endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • mitochondrial transcription factor A