Evaluating the p-FOXO1/FOXO1 Ratio: An Alternative Strategy for Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Background: The FOXO subfamily of Forkhead transcription factors plays a central role in pro-moting expression of proapoptotic and cell cycle regulatory genes. FOXO1 expression has an im-portant role in human endometrium homeostasis. Therefore, reduced FOXO1 protein and its inactivation by phosphorylation might, play a role in progression of human endometrial cancer. Methods: Current study was designed to investigate the changes of the FOXO1, phosphorylated-FOXO1 (p-FOX1) proteins levels and the p-FOXO1/FOXO1 ratio in 30 patients with endometrial cancer and 20 subjects with normal endometrium, surgically using excised human endometrial tissue specimens, quantitative real time PCR and western blot methods. Results: FOXO1 protein level in patients with endometrial cancer significantly reduced in comparison with control group (0.17 ± 0.15 vs. 1 ± 0.14; p < 0.001). Difference between p-FOXO1 level in patients with endometrial cancer and the control group was not significant (0.77 ± 0.65 vs. 1 ± 0.19; p = 0.13). It was noteworthy that P-FOXO1/FOXO1 ratio in patients with endometrial cancer was elevated (4.43 ± 0.38 vs. 1 ± 0.18; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate the importance of FOXO1 activity in endometrial cancer cell biology and suggest that enhancing FOXO1 function may be a compelling strategy to combat endometrial cancer progression.