title: Clinicopathological significance of the expression of estrogen receptor-beta and vascular endothelial growth factor-A in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Estrogen-receptor-beta (ERβ), progesterone receptor (PR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) have been implicated in colorectal cancer. However, the clinicopathological significance of any expression of these markers remains unclear. Immunohistochemical assays of ERα,  ERβ, PR, and VEGF-A were performed on 72 colorectal cancer cases. Normal mucosa from the same cases was assessed as a control. The correlation of presence of these markers with clinicopathological features and survival was determined. ERα and PR were not expressed in tumors. Forty-one  of 53 (77.4%) cases of normal mucosa showed strong ERβ expression compared with weak expression in 32 of 72 (44.4%) of malignant cells. A significant decrease in ERβ expression from normal mucosa to tumor was found in females (P = 0.007) but not in males (P = 0.149).  VEGF-A was expressed strongly in malignant cells in 64 of 72 (89%) cases. No association was found between ERβ or VEGF-A expression and tumor grade, angiolymphatic involvement, stage, disease-free survival, or overall survival. Colorectal cancers do not express ERα or PR. ERβ  may have a protective role, especially in females. VEGF-A may have a role in tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, ERβ and VEGF-A cannot be used as prognostic markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, Michigan, USA. deepatags@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taggarshe
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lobocki
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silberberg
authors.forename: Alasdair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McKendrick
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A