Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: To study the correlations between p16 gene methylation,Her-2 expression and serum CA125 level in endometrial carcinoma(EC)and clinicopathological characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 EC tissues and 20 normal controls (NC) were analyzed.We studied the p16 gene methylation by methylation specific PCR (MSP)and Her-2 expression by Envision method, and the preoperative serum CA125 levels were checked by radio-immunity in all cases. The correlations of expression levels and EC clinicopathological characteristic were studied. RESULTS: The positive rates of p16 methylation , Her-2 expression and serum CA125 level were 57.9％(22/38),60.5％(23/38)and 23.7％(9/38),respectively, in 38 cases of EC, but were not detected in 20 normal controls, the difference was significant (P<0.05). Methylation of p16 gene, Her-2 expression and serum CA125 level were all statistically related to clinical stage of EC in test group(P<0.05), methylation of p16 gene and the level was statistically related to histological grade(P<0.05). Serum CA125 levels were statistically related to pelvic lymph node mestastasis(P<0.05),the 3 indexes were all statistically related to the depth of tumor invasion(P<0.05). Spearman correlation revealed there was a statistically positive relationship between Her-2 and serum CA125 level(P=0.048)and negative correlation between methylation of p16 gene and Her-2 expression(P=0.026). CONCLUSION: The measurements of p16 methylation, Her-2 expression and serum CA125 level may reflect different behaviors of genes and tumor markers at different stages of tumor pathogenesis. They may be useful tools for providing information about the malignant degree,prognosis, and may guide postoperative treatment for patients with EC.

Key words: endometrial carcinoma, p16, Her-2, CA125, methylation