['In the present study we evaluated the protein distribution and mRNA levels of inhibin alpha-subunit and its coreceptor betaglycan in endometrial adenocarcinoma.', 'Two groups of postmenopausal women were studied: the first group had recently diagnosed endometrial adenocarcinoma (n = 16; age range 61-79 years), and the second group (n = 12; age range 64-78 years) had undergone hysterectomy for uterine prolapse and served as control.', 'Inhibin alpha-subunit and betaglycan gene expression and tissue distribution were evaluated by semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.', "Inhibin alpha-subunit and betaglycan mRNAs were expressed by both healthy and tumoral endometria, but their expression was significantly lower in endometrial carcinoma (P < 0.001, based on Student's t test). Inhibin alpha-subunit expression was much weaker in the glands of tumours than in non-neoplastic specimens. Betaglycan protein was identified in the epithelial cells lining non-tumoral endometrium, and in endothelial cells of both normal and tumoral endometria. Well-differentiated neoplastic cells had a faint and scarce betaglycan staining, and poorly differentiated cells did not express betaglycan at all."] Are inhibin alpha-subunit and the inhibin coreceptor betaglycan downregulated in endometrial carcinoma?