The Effect of Androgen Receptor Polymorphism on Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial Disorder Clinical Trial

— AREC  

Official title:

The Effect of Androgen Receptor Polymorphism on Endometrial Cancer Development, Progression, and Outcome

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05157373
• Other study ID #: DV001
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Start date: April 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: April 1, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: December 2021
• Source: University of Nicosia
• Contact: Dionysios Vaidakis, MD,PhD.
• Phone: 00306976355332
• Email: Vaidakis.d[@]unic.ac.cy
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Endometrial tissue is a hormonal-dependent tissue in both pre- and postmenopausal period. The endometrial cells are expressing receptors for all sex hormones, mainly for estrogen, progesterone and androgens. The proper response of the endometrial cells on hormones is crucial for a well-balanced fluctuation of endometrial tissue. If, for any reason, these responses are altered, this may lead to benign or malignant lesions.

The androgens, through their receptors, decrease the proliferation of the endometrial cells. After menopause, the number of androgens receptors (ARs) increases in proportion to estrogen receptors and this may lead to endometrial atrophy. If the functionality of ARs is decreased, the effect of estrogen increases and this may possibly lead to endometrial hyperplasia or to endometrial cancer. The AR gene is located on the X chromosome and consists of 8 exons. Genetic research has shown that on exon 1, there is an area of trinucleotide Cytosine- Adenosine- Guanin (CAG) repeats which controls the functionality of the receptor. The more CAG repeats, the less responsive the receptor.

The goal of this research is to study the AR gene polymorphism and particularly the number of CAG repeats on exon 1, in patients with known endometrial pathology (benign and malignant). The results will be compared with a random sample of the general population without endometrial pathology.

Description:

The role of CAG repeats on the AR is well established in degenerative neurological diseases in prostate and breast cancer, but the corresponding role in endometrial benign or malignant lesions is not well studied. It seems that there is a gap in the international literature since the results of the published studies are conflicting. A meta-analysis of 51 studies published by Qin et al. in 2017, suggested that the carriers of short polymorphic CAG repeats might increase the risk of prostate cancer, and could be used as a potential detecting marker. Another meta-analysis of 17 studies concluded that the longest CAG repeats increase the risk of breast cancer. Both those cancers are testosterone dependent and the higher the testosterone serum levels, the greater the cancer risk. Among women, the highest testosterone serum levels are observed in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. A study published in 2020 concluded that the risk of PCOS is associated with the inheritance of ARs with shorter CAG repeats.Even though a meta-analysis of 11 studies demonstrate no evident association between the CAG length in AR gene and PCOS risk, the CAG length appears to be positively associated with higher testosterone levels. However, larger scale case-control studies are needed to validate the results. The rationale of the present study is to contribute to the literature by correlating the number of CAG repeats on AR with specific endometrial benign or malignant lesions. This may result in a better understanding of the nature of endometrial lesions and the development of specific clinical interventions.

The goal of this research is to study the AR gene polymorphism and particularly the number of CAG repeats on exon 1, in patients with known endometrial pathology (benign and malignant). The results will be compared with a random sample of the general population without endometrial pathology.

Impact on science, economy and society Adrenal receptor gene polymorphism seems to be related to many clinical conditions. Studying the AR gene polymorphism in relation to endometrial functionality will provide better understanding of the physiology of endometrial tissue function, the natural progression of endometrial lesions, as well as the potential of recurrence of those lesions after treatment. This may lead to the modification of therapeutic interventions and to the development of screening tests in high-risk populations.

Compliance Statement This study will be conducted in full accordance with all applicable research policies and procedures and all applicable laws and regulations. All episodes of noncompliance will be documented. The investigators will perform the study in accordance with this protocol, will obtain consent and assent, and will report unanticipated problems involving risks to subjects. Collection, recording, and reporting of data will be accurate and will ensure the privacy, health, and welfare of research subjects during and after the study.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 150
• Est. completion date: April 1, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: April 1, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 90 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

1. Women with histologically diagnosed primary endometrial cancer. All stages of endometrial cancer patients can be included in this group.

2. Women with the following endometrial lesion:

1. Endometrial polyps

2. Endometrial hyperplasia with and without atypia

3. Endometrial hyperplasia after tamoxifen

3. Women with histologically proven normal endometrium

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Women with metastatic cancer in endometrium

2. Women with triple negative breast cancer

3. Women unable to consent

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Androgen Receptor Abnormal
• Endometrial Disorder
• Endometrial Neoplasms

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Endometrial sampling and Peripheral blood collection
The endometrial biopsy will be performed with a pipette. The pipelle will be inserted gently through the cervix and into the uterus. The pipelle procedure takes approximately one minute and involves gently moving the pipelle back and forth to obtain a sample. Then 10cc of peripheral blood will be collected.

Behavioral:
• FSFI Scale
The participants will fill up the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. The FSFI is a 19-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure sexual functioning in women. It assesses six domains of sexual function: sexual desire, sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (i.e., pain associated with vaginal penetration).

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Nicosia

References & Publications (11)

Baculescu N. The role of androgen receptor activity mediated by the CAG repeat polymorphism in the pathogenesis of PCOS. J Med Life. 2013 Mar 15;6(1):18-25. Epub 2013 Mar 25. — View Citation

Chuffa LG, Lupi-Júnior LA, Costa AB, Amorim JP, Seiva FR. The role of sex hormones and steroid receptors on female reproductive cancers. Steroids. 2017 Feb;118:93-108. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.12.011. Epub 2016 Dec 29. Review. — View Citation

Mao Q, Qiu M, Dong G, Xia W, Zhang S, Xu Y, Wang J, Rong Y, Xu L, Jiang F. CAG repeat polymorphisms in the androgen receptor and breast cancer risk in women: a meta-analysis of 17 studies. Onco Targets Ther. 2015 Aug 13;8:2111-20. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S85130. — View Citation

Maybin JA, Critchley HO. Menstrual physiology: implications for endometrial pathology and beyond. Hum Reprod Update. 2015 Nov-Dec;21(6):748-61. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmv038. Epub 2015 Aug 7. Review. — View Citation

Polat S, Karaburgu S, Unluhizarci K, Dündar M, Özkul Y, Arslan YK, Karaca Z, Kelestimur F. The role of androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphism in androgen excess disorder and idiopathic hirsutism. J Endocrinol Invest. 2020 Sep;43(9):1271-1281. doi: 10.1 — View Citation

Qin Z, Li X, Han P, Zheng Y, Liu H, Tang J, Yang C, Zhang J, Wang K, Qi X, Tang M, Wang W, Zhang W. Association between polymorphic CAG repeat lengths in the androgen receptor gene and susceptibility to prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analys — View Citation

Rosenfield RL, Ehrmann DA. The Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The Hypothesis of PCOS as Functional Ovarian Hyperandrogenism Revisited. Endocr Rev. 2016 Oct;37(5):467-520. Epub 2016 Jul 26. Review. — View Citation

Sanderson PA, Critchley HO, Williams AR, Arends MJ, Saunders PT. New concepts for an old problem: the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia. Hum Reprod Update. 2017 Mar 1;23(2):232-254. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmw042. Review. — View Citation

Student S, Hejmo T, Poterala-Hejmo A, Lesniak A, Buldak R. Anti-androgen hormonal therapy for cancer and other diseases. Eur J Pharmacol. 2020 Jan 5;866:172783. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172783. Epub 2019 Nov 8. Review. — View Citation

Zhang T, Liang W, Fang M, Yu J, Ni Y, Li Z. Association of the CAG repeat polymorphisms in androgen receptor gene with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Gene. 2013 Jul 25;524(2):161-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.04.040. Epub 20 — View Citation

Zitzmann M, Nieschlag E. The CAG repeat polymorphism within the androgen receptor gene and maleness. Int J Androl. 2003 Apr;26(2):76-83. Review. — View Citation

* Note: There are 11 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene and the relation to endometrial cancer vs control group	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.	Day 1
Primary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene and the relation to benign lesions of the endometrium vs control group	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analyzed by PCR amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.	Day 1
Primary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene as a predictive factor for endometrial lesions	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analyzed by PCR amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.	Day 1
Secondary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene and the relation to endometrial cancer stage at diagnosis among group 1 patients	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analyzed by PCR amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.	Day 1
Secondary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene and the relation to endometrial cancer type among group 1 patients	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analyzed by PCR amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.	Day 1
Secondary	The length of CAG repeats on exon 1 of AR gene and the relation to sexual function of the participants.	DNA analysis is required for the CAG repeat testing procedure. The DNA will be isolated from venous white blood cells and from endometrial cells. The high-molecular-weight DNA will then be analyzed by PCR amplification protocols, the exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene will be located and the number of CAG repeats will be recorded. If PCR is not sufficient to determine the exact number of replicates per case, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products will be determined.; The finding will be correlated with the answers of the participants in FSFI scale (Female Sexual Functioning Index )	Day 1