title: Estrogen signaling in colorectal carcinoma microenvironment: expression of ERbeta1, AIB-1, and TIF-2 is upregulated in cancer-associated myofibroblasts and correlates with disease progression.
abstract: Epidemiological and molecular data suggest the involvement of estrogen signaling in colorectal tissue, mediated mainly through estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Estrogens may mediate their effects in epithelial cells indirectly by acting on stromal cells. Expression of ERalpha, ERbeta1, and the ER coregulators, amplified in breast cancer-1 (AIB-1) and transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (TIF-2), was evaluated in myofibroblasts of 107 colorectal carcinomas, 77 paired samples of normal mucosa, and 29 adenomas by immunohistochemistry. Double immunostaining with a-SMA was used to identify the myofibroblasts of normal tissue, adenomas, and cancer microenvironment. ERalpha was not expressed in stromal cells. Nuclear expression of ERbeta1, AIB-1, and TIF-2 in myofibroblasts gradually increased from normal mucosa, through adenomas, to carcinomas. Cytoplasmic ERbeta1 and TIF-2 expression was enhanced in carcinomas compared to normal mucosa and adenomas. Enhanced nuclear and cytoplasmic ERbeta1 expression and elevated nuclear AIB-1 expression were more frequently noted in myofibroblasts of carcinomas of advanced stage. ERbeta1 expression in cancer-associated myofibroblasts correlated to AIB-1 and TIF-2 expression. None of the markers correlated with patients' prognosis. Our findings imply that ERbeta1-dependent (genomic and non-genomic) and ER-coregulator-dependent (AIB-1, TIF-2) signal transductions in myofibroblasts may be involved in the initiation and progression of colorectal carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Patras, 26500 Rion, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzelepi
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grivas
authors.forename: Zinovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kefalopoulou
authors.forename: Haralabos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalofonos
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Varakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melachrinou
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulou-Bonikou
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D051958:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D056921:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; C498001:NCOA2 protein, human; D051958:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; C538866:NCOA3 protein, human; D056921:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3