Objective   To investigate the relationship between MTA1 protein expression and pathogenesis and the progression of endometrial carcinoma(EnCa).

  Methods   MTA1 protein expression in 449 cases of endometrial tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. In the present study, 100 normal endometrial tissue samples, 49 dysplastic endometrial tissue samples, and 300 EnCa tissue samples were involved.The differences in MTA1 protein expression among the three groups were analyzed, and the correlation among the clinical features of EnCa such as pathological grades, clinical stages, and depth of myometrial invasion was explored.The data were analyzed using chi-square test.

  Results   There were significant differences in the expression of MTA1 protein among normal endometrial tissue, endometrial tissue with atypical hyperplasia, and EnCa tissue(P < 0.001).There was apparently an over-expression of MTA1 protein in the EnCa tissue, which was negatively associated with pathological grades and positively associated with clinical stages and the depth of myometrial invasion.The differences among the groups were statistically significant(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   MTAl was closely correlated to pathogenesis, pathological grades, clinical stages, and myometrial invasion in EnCa.MTAl may play an important role, as well as become a biological predictor of the pathogenesis, progression, and recurrence of EnCa.Therefore, the present study provides basis for the diagnosis and treatment of EnCa.