S100 expression in dendritic cells is inversely correlated with tumor grade in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the expression of S100 positive dendritic cells (DCs) and the relationship with clinicopathologic factors in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS Samples were collected from 89 patients with endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma treated in Pusan National University Hospital from 2004 to 2011. Normal endometrial tissues were obtained from 30 hysterectomized women with benign adnexal masses and served as controls. Paraffin-embedded sections were immunohistochemically stained for S100 was performed, and the number of positive DCs was counted. The relationship of these cells to the stage, histological grade, myometrial invasion, and lymph node metastasis was analyzed. RESULTS The proportion of S100-positive DCs in the endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma was 31.5% (28/89), which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the control group. The proportion of S100-positive DC expression was negatively correlated with the histologic grade, but was not associated with the stage, myometrial invasion, or lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION High DC density was inversely correlated with histologic grade in endometrial carcinoma. Tumor-infiltrating S100+ DCs may be used as pathologic marker in endometrial carcinoma.