Absence of type I estrogen receptors in choroidal melanoma: analysis of Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate choroidal melanomas in enucleated eyes for the presence of type I estrogen receptors.


METHODS
Fourteen consecutive eyes with large choroidal melanomas (defined as >16-mm basal diameter and >8 mm thickness) from 14 patients (eight women and six men with a mean age of 57 years; range, 25--74 years) enucleated in accordance with the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) protocol were investigated. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to label the choroidal melanomas for the presence of type I estrogen receptors. Each specimen was then evaluated in a masked fashion by an experienced ophthalmic pathologist for positive nuclear staining.


RESULTS
No tumors showed immunohistochemical evidence of a type I estrogen receptor.


CONCLUSIONS
Type I estrogen receptors are not present in choroidal melanoma. Estrogens are not likely to influence choroidal melanoma growth through traditional receptors.
Grostern
R J
RJ
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53792, USA.
Slusker Shternfeld
I
I
Bacus
S S
SS
Gilchrist
K
K
Zimbric
M L
ML
Albert
D M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen