Hormonal imbalance in two types of endometrial cancer and genetic polymorphism of steroidogenic enzymes.

Objectives: Modern data on endometrial cancer (EC) incidence demonstrate that it is one of the most prevalent gynecologic malignancies. It is possible that some allelic polymorphisms of the genes involved in steroidogenesis or steroid metabolism differently contribute into susceptibility to described types of this disease, namely to type I (which is considered to be hormone dependent) and type II.

Methods: Distribution of allelic polymorphisms of CYP17 (17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase), CYP19 (aromatase), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and CYP1B1 (primarily, estrogen 4-hydroxylase) genes was compared totally in 156 endometrial cancer patients, approximately two-third of who belonged (on the basis of case history and some characteristics of host and tumor) to type I of the disease, and one-third to type II.