Evaluation of serum levels of soluble (s)L- and (s)P-selectins in endometrial cancer.

Objectives: A number of reports on the role of selectin in the process of carcinogenesis, at the stage of proliferation and metastasis, have been available. The aim of the study was to analyze (s)P- and (s)L-selectin serum concentrations in women with EC and to compare these concentrations to clinical/pathological parameters and disease progression using surgical-pathological staging data.

Material and methods: A total of 46 patients with EC and 50 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum concentrations of sL- and sP-selectins were measured in all participants. The oncologic protocol was implemented in all women from the study group.

Results: Significantly higher serum concentrations were found in EC women as compared to controls. No statistically significant differences were found between the concentrations of the soluble forms of selectins and the following parameters: histologic type of EC, histologic tumor differentiation, depth of myometrial infiltration, cervical involvement, distant metastases, vascular space invasion, and disease advancement. Slightly higher (s)P-selectin concentrations were observed in serous carcinoma, in women with cervical involvement, in the sera of women with vascular space invasion and with advanced stages of the disease. Slightly higher mean (s)P-selectin concentrations correlated with lower differentiation of the tumor. Slightly higher mean (s)P-selectin concentration was detected in the sera of women with lymph node metastases and with the serosal and/or adnexal involvement. The results were statistically insignificant, but they almost reached statistical significance.

Conclusions: L- and P-selectins play a role in the biology of EC. The absence of an unambiguous relationship between differences in (s)L- and (s)P-selectin levels and disease advancement suggests that they do not play a vital role in tumor progression in endometrial cancer.