Expression of Survivin in extrapelvic endometriosis

Kim, Young Ah; Kim, Han Seong; Kwon, Hye Seong; Shin, Sang Hyun; Chang, Doo Young; Choi, Hyung Min; Jeon, Myung Kwon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To examine survivin expression in extrapelvic endometriosis.
METHODS
The study group consisted of 14 cases with extrapelvic endometriosis which were confirmed histologically. The control group (total, n=47) was divided into 2 groups. Group I included normal endometrium (n=34) obtained from hysterectomy specimens with myoma and without endometriosis. Group II included ovarian endometrioma (n=13) obtained from laparoscopy. Expression of survivin was immunohistochemically confirmed.
RESULTS
In extrapelvic endometriosis, the expression of nucleus in glandular epithelium and stromal cells were significantly stronger than normal endometrium. But cytoplasm expression of glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells in extrapelvic endometriosis showed statistically lower in comparison with normal endometrium. In ovarian endometrioma, the expression of nucleus in glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells was significantly stronger than normal endometrium. But the expression of nucleus in glandular epithelial cells with ovarian endometrioma was stronger than during proliferative phase but was not significant. Also cytoplasm expression of ovarian endometrioma was lower than normal endometrium. There was no difference in survivin expression between extrapelvic endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma.
CONCLUSIONS
In extrapelvic endometriosis, survivin expression was stronger than normal endometrium except cytoplasm. Our findings suggest that increased survivin expression may contribute to survival of extrapelvic implants.