Summary:
RCAS1 protein is a tumor antigen, which is found in many different human
malignancies. It has been recognized as a prognostic factor in 15 different
types of human cancers and has been associated with increased aggressiveness
and poor prognosis. Its action is mediated through the modification of immune
function, which enables tumor cells to escape immune surveillance. At the same
time, acting as immunomodulatory agent of endometrium, affects the
immunoregulatory ability of endometrial cells and their resistance to immune
cells. Finally, the expression of RCAS1 protein in ectopic endometrium,
confirms the theory of "immunodeficiency" whereby, survival of dispersible
endometrial cells in new ectopic sites, is facilitated by the strong
suppression of the immune system cytotoxic activity.
The purpose of this thesis is to study the expression of RCAS1 protein in
histological specimens of normal endometrium (20), divided equally between the
two phases of the endometrial cycle, ovarian endometriosis specimens (20) and
in ovarian adenocarcinoma specimens on the ground of endometriosis (10) and to
evaluate the activity of the protein, in the characteristic changes that occur
in the microenvironment of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, and in
the pathogenesis of endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
Based on the results of this study, normal endometrium during the secretory
phase of the menstrual cycle, marked by double RCAS1 expression (70%) compared
with expression in the proliferative phase of the cycle (30%); ovarian
endometriosis is characterized by significantly lower RCAS1 expression (45%),
compared with expression in normal endometrium during the secretory phase of
the cycle, and higher expression compared with expression in the proliferative
phase of the cycle; endometrioid ovarian adenocarcinoma, characterized by the
higher RCAS1 expression (100%), compared both to the protein expression in
normal endometrium during the secretory phase of the cycle, and with expression
in samples of ovarian endometriosis. These findings are in agreement with the
findings of other international studies, confirming, and on our part, the
clinical significance of the RCAS1 expression, both in the immunomodulatory
activity of normal endometrium, especially during the secretory phase of the
cycle and in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and ovarian adenocarcinoma.
Keywords:
RCAS1, Normal endometrium, Ovarian endometriosis, Ovarian adenocarcinoma, Ιmmunomodulation
