Villin immunohistochemical expression in endometrial carcinoma

Introduction: Villin is a highly specialised protein and is expressed in intestinal epithelium. It was detected in colorectal carcinomas and other non-gastrointestinal tumours. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of villin in endometrial carcinoma and normal endometrium. Materials and Methods: Tissue microarray blocks were prepared from 73 archival of endometrial carcinomas obtained from the Department of Pathology at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tissue sections were stained using anti-human villin monoclonal antibody. The extent of immunostaining results were recorded and categorised. Results: Positive immunostaining for villin was observed in 12.3% of endometrial carcinoma and was negative in all non-neoplastic endometrial tissues. Villin staining was observed in the apical surface cytoplasm and nucleus. Villin expression showed no age preference. All positive tumours are of the endometrioid type with no preference to histological grade or stage. Conclusion: In summary, the authors observed the immunostaining in a small number of endometrial carcinomas in the apical border, cytoplasm, and for the first time in nucleus. Endometrial carcinomas should be considered when evaluating patients with villin positive adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. The mechanism and the importance of villin immunostaining and its expression pattern in endometrial carcinoma needs further investigations.

Endometrium; Tissue microarray; Immunohistochemistry; Antibody.

[1] Burke W.M,. Orr J., Leitao M., Salom E., Gehrig P., Olawaiye A.B., et al.: “Endometrial cancer: a review and current management strategies: part I”. Gynecol. Oncol., 2014, 134, 385.

[2] Sorosky J.I.: “Endometrial cancer”. Obstet. Gynecol., 2012, 120, 383.

[3] The Saudi Cancer Registry: “Cancer Incidence Report 2014”.

[4] Yoo S.H., Park B.H., Choi J., Yoo J., Lee S.W., Kim Y.M., Kim K.R.: “Papillary mucinous metaplasia of the endometrium as a possible precursor of endometrial mucinous adenocarcinoma”. Mod. Pathol., 2012, 25, 1496.

[5] Athman R., Louvard D., Robine S.: “The epithelial cell cytoskeleton and intracellular trafficking. III. How is villin involved in the actin cytoskeleton dynamics in intestinal cells?” Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest Liver Physiol., 2002, 283, G496.

[6] Bretscher A., Weber K.: “Villin is a major protein of the microvillus cytoskeleton which binds both G and F actin in a calcium-dependent manner”. Cell,1980, 20, 839.

[7] Braunstein E.M., Qiao X.T., Madison B., Pinson K., Dunbar L., Gumucio D.L.: “Villin: A marker for development of the epithelial pyloric border”. Dev. Dyn., 2002, 224, 90.

[8] Robine S., Huet C., Moll R., Sahuquillo-Merino C., Coudrier E., Zweibaum A., Louvard D.: “Can villin be used to identify malignant and undifferentiated normal digestive epithelial cells?” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1985, 82, 8488.

[9] Moll R., Robine S., Dudouet B., Louvard D.: “Villin: a cytoskeletal protein and a differentiation marker expressed in some human adenocarcinomas”. Virchows Arch. B. Cell. Pathol. Incl. Mol. Pathol., 1987, 54, 155.

[10] Bacchi C.E., Gown A.M.: “Distribution and pattern of expression of villin, a gastrointestinal-associated cytoskeletal protein, in human carcinomas: a study employing paraffin-embedded tissue”. Lab Invest., 1991, 64, 418.

[11] Arango D., Al-Obaidi S., Williams D.S., Dopeso H., Mazzolini R., Corner G., et al.: “Villin expression is frequently lost in poorly differentiated colon cancer”. Am. J. Pathol., 2012, 180, 1509.

[12] Al-Maghrabi J., Gomaa W., Buhmeida A., Al-Qahtani M., Al-Ahwal M.: “Loss of villin immunoexpression in colorectal carcinoma is associated with poor differentiation and survival”. ISRN Gastroenterol., 2013, 2013, 679724.

[13] Zhang P.J., Harris K.R., Alobeid B., Brooks J.J.: “Immunoexpression of villin in neuroendocrine tumors and its diagnostic implications”. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med., 1999, 123, 812.

[14] Al-Maghrabi J., Gomaa W., Buhmeida A., Qari Y., Al-Qahtani M., Al-Ahwal M.: “Prognostic significance of VEGFR1/Flt-1 immunoexpression in colorectal carcinoma”. Tumour Biol., 2014, 35, 9045.

[15] Al-Muhannadi N., Ansari N., Brahmi U., Satir A.A.: “Differential diagnosis of malignant epithelial tumours in the liver: an immunohistochemical study on liver biopsy material”. Ann. Hepatol., 2011, 10, 508.

[16] Grone H.J., Weber K., Helmchen U., Osborn M.: “Villin—a marker of brush border differentiation and cellular origin in human renal cell carcinoma”. Am. J. Pathol., 1986, 124, 294.

[17] Lau S.K., Prakash S., Geller S.A., Alsabeh R.: “Comparative immunohistochemical profile of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastatic adenocarcinoma”. Hum. Pathol., 2002, 33, 1175.

[18] Yoshino N., Kubokura H., Yamauchi S., Ohaki Y., Koizumi K., Shimizu K.: “Mucinous carcinoma identified as lung metastasis from an early rectal cancer with submucosal invasion by immunohistochemical detection of villin”. Jpn. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 2006, 54, 328.

[19] Nambu Y., Iannettoni M.D., Orringer M.B., Beer D.G.: “Unique expression patterns and alterations in the intestinal protein villin in primary and metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinomas”. Mol. Carcinog., 1998, 23, 234.

[20] Nieuwenhuizen L., Khalil M.K., Naik V.R., Othman N.H.: “Prevalence of goblet cell metaplasia in endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma: a histochemical study”. Malays J. Med. Sci., 2007, 14, 56.

[21] Rubio A., Schuldt M., Guarch R., Laplaza Y., Giordano G., Nogales F.F.: “Pseudomyxoma-type invasion in gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas of endometrium and cervix: a report of 2 cases”. Int. J. Gynecol. Pathol., 2016, 35, 118.

[22] Nicolae A., Goyenaga P., McCluggage W.G., Preda O., Nogales F.F.: “Endometrial intestinal metaplasia: a report of two cases, including one associated with cervical intestinal and pyloric metaplasia”. Int. J. Gynecol. Pathol., 2011, 30, 492.

[23] Zheng W., Yang G.C., Godwin T.A., Caputo T.A., Zuna R.E.: “Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with intestinal differentiation: a case report”. Hum. Pathol., 1995, 26, 1385.