Immunohistochemical expression of gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor in human breast carcinoma.
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs can cause regression of hormone-dependent breast carcinomas via the specific GnRH receptor (GnRH-R). In an attempt to obtain a better understanding of GnRH actions in human breast carcinoma, the expression of GnRH-R was examined immunohistochemically in 58 invasive ductal carcinomas and correlated with various clinicopathological parameters. GnRH-R was immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells in 37 of 58 invasive ductal carcinoma cases (64%). Immunoreactivity for GnRH-R was also detected focally in the cytoplasm of morphologically normal glandular epithelia adjacent to the carcinoma. A significant correlation was observed between the immunohistochemical expression of GnRH-R and estrogen receptor labeling index (LI; P = 0.030) or progesterone receptor LI (P = 0.0074). There was a significant inverse correlation between GnRH-R immunoreactivity and Ki-67 LI (P = 0.012). No significant correlations were detected between GnRH-R and other clinicopathological parameters, including patient age, menopausal status, stage, tumor size, lymph node status, histological grade and prognosis. This study indicates that GnRH-R is widely distributed in human breast carcinoma cells and regulates GnRH actions locally. Breast carcinomas positive for GnRH-R maintain some hormonal regulatory mechanisms, and GnRH actions may lead to a low proliferative rate in human breast carcinoma.
Moriya
T
T
Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. moriya@patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Suzuki
T
T
Pilichowska
M
M
Ariga
N
N
Kimura
N
N
Ouchi
N
N
Nagura
H
H
Sasano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000737:chemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone