Inhibin-alpha subunit is an independent prognostic parameter in human endometrial carcinomas: analysis of inhibin/activin-alpha, -betaA and -betaB subunits in 302 cases

Introduction: Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, composed of an alpha-subunit (inhibin-α) and one of two possible beta-subunits (βA or βB), with substantial roles in human reproduction and in endocrine-responsive tumours. Aims of this study were to determine the distribution of inhibin-α, -βA and -βB in malignant human endometrial tissue and the assessment of an association with specific clinicopathologic tumour features and clinical outcome. Materials and Methods: A series of 302 endometrial cancer tissue samples were immunohistochemically analysed with monoclonal antibodies against inhibin-subunits. The inhib…