A case of incidental endometrial adenocarcinoma diagnosed in early pregnancy and managed conservatively

Endometrial cancer is the most common neoplasia of the female reproductive system, with the highest incidence among uterine malignancies, and is rarely associated with pregnancy. Thirty-five cases of pregnancy-associated endometrial cancer have been reported in literature, of which ours represents the 20th case diagnosed during the first trimester. A 39-year-old woman, gravida 4, para 2, was diagnosed with a focal, well- to moderately differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA and grades G1 and G2) after dilatation and curettage (D&C) for a spontaneous abortion. The patient underwent progestational therapy and follow-up hysteroscopies and D&C to preserve fertility; she is alive and well 18 months after diagnosis. Recurrence of endometrial cancer coexisting with early pregnancy has not been reported in the literature. Conservative therapy for early endometrial cancer, diagnosed at the time of pregnancy, may be an option. Routine histologic examination after D&C performed for spontaneous abortion seems advisable.

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Immunocytochemical localization of β1-4 galactosyltransferase in endometrial carcinoma cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162284 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 944-945

Author(s):

Ichiro Yamamoto ◽

Toshiaki Tachibana ◽

Hiroko Maruyama ◽

Noriyuki Komatsu ◽

Hiroyuki Kuramoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Carcinoma ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma ◽

Protein A ◽

Rabbit Antiserum ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Affinity Column ◽

Antibody Technique ◽

Galactosyl Transferase ◽

C Terminus

We have paid attention to the alteration of glycosyltransferase in carcinoma cells, because it might be related to the malignancy of the cells. In this connection, localization of β1-4 galactosyl transferase (β1-4 Gal T) in human endometrial carcinoma cells was examined immunocytochemically using two kinds of cell lines, each of which showed different degree of differentiation.An antibody was purified from the rabbit antiserum against the synthetic peptide, IFNRLVFRGMSC (W89) of human β1-4 Gal T coupled with KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanine) by protein A column and peptide-affinity column chromatography. The anti-W89 serum reacts to the C-terminus of human β 1-4 Gal T and to both membrane-bound and soluble forms of the enzyme. Cell line of well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (I) and that of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (50B) were cultivated respectively in MEM medium containing 15% FCS and 2 mM glutamine for 4 d at 37°C under 5% CO2. The cells were fixed in a mixture of 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Soerensen’s phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 4°C for 30 min, washed with PBS, then freezed and thawed. The indirect method of the peroxidase- labeled antibody technique was used for immunocytochemistry of both LM and TEM on the cell lines. The cells were dehydrated in ethanol and embedded in TAAB 812. Ultrathin sections were observed under a TEM, JEM-100S.

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