Expression of PTEN gene in endometriosis of the ovary

The expression of PTEN mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in tissues of endometriosis and normal ovary. The difference between the relative expression level of PTEN mRNA exon 1-9 and 5-9 in tissues of endometriosis and normal ovary was statisatically significant (t=3.122, 2.209, P<0.01, 0.05). The expression level of PTEN mRNA in endometriosis of ovary was related to staging (t=2.678, 2.284, P0.05). PTEN gene inactivation may represent early events in the transformation of benign endometriotic cells to malignancy.