Estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma and correlation with different clinicopathological parameters.
BACKGROUND
We examined the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) to determine their influence on prognosis (overall survival and disease-free survival) and to evaluate the association between the steroid receptor expression and various clinicopathological parameters.


METHODS
Estrogen and progesterone receptor expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue in 21 patients with uterine LMS. The immunohistochemical findings were correlated with different clinicopathological parameters of the patients.


RESULTS
Estrogen and progesterone receptors were expressed in 57% and 43%, respectively. The relationship between estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and clinical stage, age, vascular space involvement and recurrence of disease did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Neither estrogen nor progesterone receptor expression significantly influenced overall survival and disease-free survival (p > 0.05). Early tumor stage (p = 0.0001), age at diagnosis < 50 years (p = 0.02) and the absence of vascular space involvement (p = 0.04) were prognostic factors associated with a lengthened overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the present study observed that estrogen and progesterone receptors are frequently expressed in uterine leiomyosarcoma. However, their expression did not correlate with clinical stage, age, vascular space involvement and recurrence of disease and had no influence on overall and disease-free survival. Despite the lack of prognostic impact, further clinical studies with larger numbers of cases need to be performed to verify if estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive tumors can be treated by hormonal manipulation.
Bodner
Klaus
K
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Wahringer Gürtel 18-20, Austria.
Bodner-Adler
Barbara
B
Kimberger
Oliver
O
Czerwenka
Klaus
K
Leodolter
Sepp
S
Mayerhofer
Klaus
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone