Anti-Müllerian Hormone Expression in Endometrial Cancer Tissue

Abstract

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a commonly known factor secreted by Sertoli cells, responsible for regression of the Müllerian ducts in male fetuses. AMH has also other functions in humans. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that AMH inhibits cell cycle and induces apoptosis in cancers with AMH receptors. The aim of the study was to assess whether the tissue of pre-cancerous states of endometrium (PCS) and various histopathologic types of endometrial cancer (EC) exhibit the presence of AMH. We aimed to investigate whether the potential presence of the protein concerns menopausal women or those regularly menstruating, and whether is related to cancers with a good or a bad prognosis, as well as what other factors may influence AMH expression. The undertaken analysis was carried out on tissues retrieved from 232 women who underwent surgical treatment for PCS and EC. Tissues were prepared for immunohistochemical assessment with the use of a tissue microarrays method. AMH expression was confirmed in 23 patients with well differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma (G1), moderately differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma (G2), clear cell carcinoma (CCA) and nonatypical hyperplasia. AMH was not found in EC tissues in regularly menstruating women. An appropriately long mean period of breastfeeding in line with a prolonged period of hormonal activity had a positive effect on AMH expression. Our results may suggest that AMH is a factor which protects the organism against cancer, and should be further investigated as a potential prognosis marker and a therapeutic agent.

Anti‐Müllerian hormone is expressed and secreted by bovine oviductal and endometrial epithelial cells

“…Little is known about AMH expression in the oviduct and endometrium in all species. However, a previous study utilizing immunohistochemistry detected AMH expression in the human endometrium (Wang, Dicken, Lustbader, & Tortoriello, 2009) and human endometrial cancer tissue (Gowkielewicz et al, 2019). Recently, AMHR2 expression was discovered in healthy human endometrial tissues (Kim et al., 2019).…”

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) autocrine signaling promotes survival and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells

“…Conversely, to our knowledge, there is no information on AMH concentration in tumors. Recently, Gowkielewic et al analyzed AMH expression in 232 endometrial tumors by immunohistochemistry, and found that it was expressed in 23 samples 36 . However, the authors did not analyze AMH potential role in tumor development 36 .…”

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Type II Receptor Expression in Endometrial Cancer Tissue

“…However, analyses revealed that the period of estrogen activity has no effect on differences in AMHRII presence. Though, it was noticed that a period of hormonal activity longer than 40 years has a positive effect on the presence of AMH into endometrial cancer tissue and thus probably reduces the malignancy and spread of the cancer [ 19 ]. The above facts can describe the mechanisms controlling AMHRII expression in EC tissues as independent from sex hormone activity.…”

“…Case history reviews were collected for all patients in order to record demographic details and tumor characteristics, including comorbidities and survival outcomes. Biopsy samples from the affected area were processed as previously described [ 19 ]. Briefly, samples were preserved in 4% buffered formaldehyde in the form of a ready-to-use phosphate-buffered solution (Chempur, Poland) immediately after surgical removal of tissue.…”

“…So far, among new targeted therapy agents for EC, only pembrolizumab has been approved [ 18 ]. There is a need for new solutions in oncology to manage advanced, recurrent, and metastatic endometrial cancers [ 18 , 19 ]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate AMHRII expression in different types of endometrial cancer.…”