Estrogen receptor expression in adrenocortical carcinoma.
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.
Shen
Xiao-cao
XC
Urology Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Gu
Cai-xiao
CX
Qiu
Yi-qing
YQ
Du
Chuan-jun
CJ
Fu
Yan-biao
YB
Wu
Jian-jun
JJ
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen