title: Comparison of estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptor and calponin expression in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist-sensitive and -resistant uterine fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to compare immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α, progesterone receptor (PR), and calponin in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a)-sensitive and -resistant uterine fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected data retrospectively. The sensitive group consisted of women who had reduction in uterine volume greater than 40% following GnRH-a treatment. Uterine volume was either reduced by less than 10%, or was increased in the resistant group. A tissue microarray was constructed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, 31 and 26 patients for the sensitive and resistant groups, respectively. Tissue sections were immunostained with antibodies against ER-α, PR, and calponin. The intensity and area of the immunohistochemical reactions were evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system. The Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's rank correlation test were used for analysis of data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PR (P = 0.04) and calponin (P = 0.03) showed a significantly higher staining intensity in the resistant group than in the sensitive group. Both groups showed comparable expression of ER-α (P = 0.23). In correlation analysis between changes in uterine volume after GnRH-a therapy and clinicopathological factors, the immunohistochemical intensity of PR (P = 0.04) and calponin (P = 0.03) was significantly correlated with changes in uterine volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that GnRH-a resistance of uterine fibroids is not related to ER-α content, but the expression of PR and calponin is related with GnRH-a resistance.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Gun Oh
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Gy
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Calponin; Estrogen receptor; Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist; Leiomyoma; Progesterone receptor