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The identification of two subgroups of obese women with differing endometrial proliferation levels: potential consequences in the development of endometrial cancer

International Journal of Obesity volume 36, pages 1012–1015 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Enhanced endometrial proliferation correlates obesity to type-I (estrogen-dependent) endometrial cancer (EC). Our aim was to distinguish obese women (without EC) with differing endometrial proliferation. Endometrial and blood samples were obtained from normal-weight and obese women without EC. Type-I EC samples were obtained from obese patients. On measuring endometrial proliferation (Ki67 and phosphorylated histone H3 (p-H3)), two groups of obese women without EC were identified: obeseHigh Proliferating (OHP) and obeseLow Proliferating (OLP). Increased Ki67 (88.5%, P<0.001), p-H3 (62.6%, P<0.01), 17β-estradiol/progesterone ratio (46.3%, P<0.01) and endometrial estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) (82.2%, P<0.001) were observed in OHP compared with OLP patients. ECs possessed similar ERα and enhanced proliferation as OHP, suggesting that OHP women are at higher risk of type-I EC. OLP women were indistinguishable from normal-weight women regarding these determinants of endometrial proliferation, ERα and 17β-estradiol/progesterone ratio. Our data may further define the obesity phenotype in regards to type-I EC risk and may help identify obese women more susceptible to develop type-I EC, allowing early intervention and a potential reduction in mortality.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the women who donated blood and endometrial samples. This study was supported by Grant No. 1110232 from the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nutrition & Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    A Villavicencio

  2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    G Aguilar

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, San Borja-Arriarán Clinical Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    J Acuña & E Soto

  4. Pathology Department, San Borja-Arriarán Clinical Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    F Gabler

  5. Pathology Department, Dr Luis Tisné Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    F Gaete & P Peñaloza

  6. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Dr Luis Tisné Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    M Celis

  7. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    G I Owen

  8. The Biomedical Research Consortium of Chile, Alameda, Santiago, Chile,

    G I Owen

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  1. A Villavicencio
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  2. G Aguilar
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  4. F Gabler
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  5. E Soto
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  6. F Gaete
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  7. P Peñaloza
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  9. G I Owen
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Correspondence to A Villavicencio.

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Villavicencio, A., Aguilar, G., Acuña, J. et al. The identification of two subgroups of obese women with differing endometrial proliferation levels: potential consequences in the development of endometrial cancer. Int J Obes 36, 1012–1015 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.189

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