title: Association between hormone receptor expression and epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in patients operated on for non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) play important roles in breast cancer. Similarly, there have been several reports of ER and PR expression in lung cancers, but the results have not been consistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hormone receptor expression and clinicopathologic factors and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 316 resected NSCLC specimens for ER-α, PR, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and aromatase (n=272) expression using immunohistochemical methods. EGFR mutations were evaluated with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ER-α and PR were detected in 36.1% and 44.9% of all patients, respectively. The expression of ER-α was observed mostly in cytoplasm (94.7%) and the expression of PR was observed mostly in nucleus (95.8%). Aromatase was detected in the cytoplasm of 64.0% of patients. ER-α expression was significantly associated with female gender (p=0.004). The expression of PR was significantly associated with better clinicopathologic features. ER-α expression showed a positive correlation with PR (r=0.275; p<0.001) and aromatase (r=0.244; p<0.001) expression levels. EGFR mutation was independently associated with the female gender (p=0.001), negative expression of PR (p<0.001), and negative expression of aromatase (p=0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of ER-α and PR distinguish a subset of NSCLC that has defined clinicopathologic features. Negative expression of PR and aromatase correlate with EGFR mutation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Bin-bin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Si-yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D066246:ErbB Receptors