Tissue microarray analysis of hormonal signaling pathways in uterine carcinosarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of hormone (estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, progesterone receptor) and growth factor receptor (insulin-like growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) expression with disease progression in uterine carcinosarcoma.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue arrays using standard methodology. Differences between groups were evaluated by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Interactions between tumor stage and receptor expression were determined by linear trend analysis.


RESULTS
Compared with normal endometrium, carcinosarcomas exhibited low estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor expression (all P < .01), but overexpressed estrogen receptor beta (P = .02). Estrogen receptor beta expression increased in advanced stage disease (P = .02). Insulin-like growth factor receptor expression was lower in carcinosarcoma compared with normal endometrium (P = .01). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression was elevated and increased with disease progression (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
In uterine carcinosarcoma, estrogen receptor beta expression is elevated and increases with disease progression, whereas estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor are suppressed. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression is increased, whereas insulin-like growth factor receptor is lower than in normal endometrium. These data support a potential role for estrogen receptor beta in disease progression via crosstalk with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.
Huang
Gloria S
GS
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Arend
Rebecca C
RC
Li
Maomi
M
Gunter
Marc J
MJ
Chiu
Lydia G
LG
Horwitz
Susan Band
SB
Goldberg
Gary L
GL
D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone