Expression and subcellular localization of CRH and its receptors in human endometrial cancer.
CRH and its receptors are expressed in human normal endometrial cells, where they are associated to anti-proliferative progesterone-like activity. We aimed to investigate CRH, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 expression and intracellular localization in human endometrial cancers and their relationships with tumor biological parameters. Surgical specimens were obtained from 51 untreated endometrial cancer patients and immunohistochemistry for CRH, CRH receptors, ER, PR and Ki-67 was performed. We found a diffuse cytoplasmic staining in 100%, 92 % and 60.7 % of tumor specimens for CRH, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2, respectively. At variance with tumor tissues, the surrounding normal endometrial glands exhibit a typical paranuclear/apical pattern for CRH and stained for CRH-R2 at the nuclear level, whereas CRH-R1 staining was similar to that observed in tumor area. Positive correlations were found between CRH-R1 and PR expression, as well as between CRH-R2 cytoplasmic pattern and more advanced FIGO stage disease, respectively.
Institute of Pharmacology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Fiorella
F
Miceli
Franco O
FO
Ranelletti
Enrica
E
Martinelli
Marco
M
Petrillo
Giovanni
G
Scambia
Pierluigi
P
Navarra
Gabriella
G
Ferrandina
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008024:Ligands; D008875:Middle Aged; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D008024:Ligands; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone