New Biomarkers for Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with EndometrialCancer using Exon-expression Microarray

为了在术前使用原发癌组织预测淋巴结转移，我们探索了子宫内膜癌患者淋巴结转移的假定生物标志物基因。在淋巴结阳性组中，我们筛选到3个上调的转录本：ANKRD 36（ankyrin repeat domain containing 36）、CROP和MALAT-1。免疫组化分析表明，ANKRD 36和CROP分别定位于癌细胞的细胞质和细胞核中。ANKRD 36蛋白在淋巴结阳性组中的表达水平显著高于淋巴结阴性组。原位杂交显示MALAT-1定位于癌细胞核内。将进行进一步分析以阐明这3种分子的生物学功能，这3种分子可能是子宫内膜癌中假定的淋巴结阳性生物标志物。

To predict lymph node metastasis using primary cancer tissue preoperatively, we explored putative biomarker genes of node metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer. Three up-regulated transcripts in node-positive group were picked up; ANKRD36 (ankyrin repeat domain containing 36), CROP and MALAT-1. mmunostaining analyses elucidated that ANKRD36 and CROP are localized in cytoplasm and nuclei of cancer cells, respectively. Furthermore, in node-positive group, ANKRD36 protein expression levels weresignificantly high compared with one in node-negative group. In situ hybridization showedMALAT-1 was localized in nucleus of carcinoma cells. Further analyses will be performed to clarify biological function of these 3 molecules which might be the putative node-positive biomarkers in endometrial cancer.