title: Estrogen receptor expression in adrenocortical carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor, and its diagnosis is mostly delayed and prognosis is poor. We report estrogen receptor (ER) expression in this tumor and our clinical experiences with 17 ACC cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of the 17 patients (9 females and 8 males, age range from 16 to 69 years, mean age of 42.6 years) with ACC were reviewed, and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and results of follow-up were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ER expression in tumor samples from the 17 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of diagnosis, 4 tumors were classified as Stage I, 4 as Stage II, 3 as Stage III, and 6 as Stage IV. Eight patients demonstrated positive nuclear immunostaining of ER. The prognosis of patients with ER positive was significantly better (P<0.05) than that of patients with ER negative, with 1- and 5-year survival rates at 86% and 60% for ER-positive patients, and 38% and 0% for ER-negative patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ER-positivity may be one of the factors associated with a worse prognosis of ACC.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-cao
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Cai-xiao
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yi-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Chuan-jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yan-biao
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jian-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen