Background: The expressions of leptin and its receptor (ObR) have been observed in human endometrial cancer (EC) cells, and leptin can promote the proliferation of EC cells. However, the correlation between leptin and ObR expressions in EC and the clinicopathology of EC is still unclear.
Objective: This study investigated the correlation between the expressions of leptin and ObR in EC and the clinicopathology of EC.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used in this study. The correlation between the expressions of leptin and ObR in EC and the clinicopathology of EC was analyzed.
Results: In the EC specimens, the expressions of leptin and ObR were positively correlated with the invasiveness of the cancer and the obesity of patients, but inversely correlated with histological grade. The percentages of leptin and ObR were significantly higher in the patients with lymph node metastasis. Positive expression of leptin and ObR was associated with poorer prognosis (3-year survival rate). Moreover, the expression of leptin and ObR was associated with positive expression of estrogen receptor.
Conclusions: Leptin and ObR are overexpressed in EC, and their expressions are associated with malignancy, invasion, and metastasis of EC. Thus, leptin and ObR may be important indicators in EC.
Keywords: Endometrial cancer; ObR; clinicopathology; leptin.