CXCR4 expression and clinicopathological features of endometrial endometrioid carcinoma with the microcystic, elongated, and fragmented pattern
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The microcystic, elongated, and fragmented (MELF) pattern of invasion in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) is a special mode of myometrial invasion that has been recently recognized by the pathology community. Overexpression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in tumor cells contributes to tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and recurrence. AIM: To explore the correlation between CXCR4 expression in EEC and MELF invasion and clinicopathological features. METHODS: A total of 205 EEC patients treated at Peking University People's Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were selected (60 cases with MELF invasion, 145 cases without). The clinicopathological features of the two groups were compared, and expression of CXCR4 protein, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor was detected and compared by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: EEC with MELF invasion was significantly associated with low tumor grade, lymphovascular space invasion, deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement, and lymph node metastasis. There was a difference in CXCR4 expression between the two groups, with the MELF group having a significantly higher expression than the non-MELF group. CONCLUSION: CXCR4 expression is significantly increased in EEC with MELF invasion and in the MELF invasion area, which may promote tumor invasion and metastasis and has some value for prognostic assessment.
Source: World Journal of Clinical Cases
Authors: Ji-Xian Wang, Dan-Hua Shen, Xiao-Bo Zhang
Institution: Peking University People's Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409833106