Expression of COX-2 and HER-2/neu and estrogen and progesterone receptor in primary squamous cell carcinomas of the endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
Primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are rare but aggressive malignancies. To evaluate therapeutically relevant molecules, ESCC were investigated immunohistochemically.


METHODS
Eight ESCC were stained with antibodies against estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2/neu, and COX-2 followed by semiquantitative evaluation of the staining results.


RESULTS
Seven out of eight ESCC were negative for estrogen receptor as well as for HER-2/neu. Four tumors showed positivity for progesterone receptor. All ESCC displayed COX-2 overexpression.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary ESCC are probably not under hormonal control of estrogens and lack HER-2/neu expression. Thus, anti-hormonal or antibody therapy with herceptine is not indicated. The use of COX-2 inhibitors might be a therapeutic alternative in ESCC that requires further investigation.
Horn
L-C
LC
Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 26, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. hornl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Faber
S
S
Bilek
K
K
Leo
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human