title: Expression of steroid hormone receptors in BRCA1-associated ovarian carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  BRCA1 mutations predispose to cancer in hormone responsive tissues. A predominance of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancers in BRCA1 mutation carriers and potential interactions between ERalpha and BRCA1 suggest a link between hormones and BRCA1. However, the expression pattern of ERalpha and other hormone receptors in BRCA1-associated ovarian cancer was unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two BRCA1-associated ovarian cancer cases were matched with sporadic cases (no family history of ovarian or breast cancer) for FIGO stage, grade, histologic subtype, and patient age and hormone receptor expression was measured immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERalpha expression was similar in BRCA1-associated ovarian cancer compared with matched sporadic counterparts, in contrast with previous findings in BRCA1-linked breast cancer. There was also no significant difference in expression of progesterone receptors and androgen receptor between the matched cases in the two groups. However, differences were noted in the relative expression of receptor isotypes, in particular, levels of ERalpha and ERbeta were positively correlated in sporadic tumors but inversely related in BRCA1-associated tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar hormone receptor expression in BRCA1-associated ovarian cancer and matched sporadic counterparts may be further evidence that at least a proportion of sporadic ovarian tumors and BRCA1-associated tumors develop through similar pathways.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. m.aghmesheh@student.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghmesheh
authors.forename: Lyndal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byth
authors.forename: Benita S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Katzenellenbogen
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Fazio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C101118:progesterone receptor A; C097314:progesterone receptor B