HOXA-10 and E-cadherin expression in the endometrium of women with recurrent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage.

<bold>Objective: </bold>To compare the expression of HOXA-10 and E-cadherin in the endometrium of women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), women with recurrent miscarriage (RM), and women with proven fertility (normal control; NC).<bold>Design: </bold>Observational cohort study.<bold>Setting: </bold>University assisted reproductive unit.<bold>Patient(s): </bold>Fifty women were recruited: 18 NC, 12 unexplained RIF, and 20 RM.<bold>Interventions(s): </bold>None.<bold>Main Outcome Measure(s): </bold>Endometrial biopsy was precisely timed 7 days after LH surge. The expression of HOXA-10 and E-cadherin were examined by means of immunohistochemistry. H-Scores of staining intensity in the glandular epithelium and stroma were measured.<bold>Result(s): </bold>HOXA-10 signal was mainly localized in the nuclei of stroma cells and the cytoplasm of glandular epithelium cells. E-Cadherin signal was found only in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelium cells. The HOXA-10 H-scores in the RIF group and the RM group were significantly lower than in the control group in both the glandular epithelium and stroma. The E-cadherin H-scores in the RM group were also significantly lower than in the control group. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between HOXA-10 and E-cadherin H-scores in all of the women examined.<bold>Conclusion(s): </bold>There is a positive correlation between levels of HOXA-10 and E-cadherin expression in the endometrium, both of which are significantly reduced in women with RIF and RM compared with fertile control women. The findings suggest a potential role of HOXA-10 and E-cadherin in the implantation processes and altered expression in women with reproductive failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]