Objective

Dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (Dusp6) was proposed as a predictive marker of response of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and early endometrial cancer (EEC) to conservative treatment. However, its predictive accuracy has never been calculated. We aimed to define it in conservatively treated AEH and EEC.

Methods

All patients <45 years with AEH or EEC and conservatively treated with hysteroscopic resection + LNG-IUD insertion from 2007 to 2018 were retrospectively assessed. Dusp6 immunohistochemical expression was assessed and dichotomized as “strong” vs “weak”. Relative risk (RR) for “no regression” and “recurrence” or AEH/EEC was calculated. Predictive accuracy was calculated as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) and area under the curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

Thirty-six women were included. Weak Dusp6 immunohistochemical expression was significantly associated with increased risk of resistance to treatment, with a RR=16 (p=0.0074); predictive accuracy analysis showed sensitivity=80%, specificity=90%, PPV=57.1%, NPV=96.4%, AUC=0.85. A weak Dusp6 expression was not significantly associated with the risk of recurrence after an initial regression (RR=0.4; p=0.53).

Conclusion

Weak Dusp6 expression appears as a significant predictor of resistance of AEH/EEC to fertility-sparing treatment, with moderate predictive accuracy.