Abstract
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.