title: Aromatase and estrogen receptor alpha mRNA expression as prognostic biomarkers in patients with astrocytomas.
abstract: Estrogens are oncogenic hormones at a high level in breast, prostate, endometrial and lung cancer. Estrogens are synthesized by aromatase which has been used as a biomarker both in breast and lung cancer. Estrogen biological activities are executed by their classic receptors (ERα and ERβ). ERα has been described as a cancer promoter and ERβ, as a possible tumor suppressor. Both receptors are present at low levels in primary multiforme glioblastoma (GBM). The GBM frequency is 50 % higher in men than in women. The GBM patient survival period ranges from 7 to 18 months. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate aromatase and estrogen receptor expression, as well as 17ß-estradiol concentration in astrocytoma patients biopsies to obtain a prognosis biomarker for these patients. We analyzed 36 biopsies of astrocytoma patients with a different grade (I-IV) of malignity. Aromatase and estrogen receptor mRNA expression were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, and the E2 levels, by ELISA. E2 concentration was higher in GBM, compared to grade II or III astrocytomas. The number of cells immunoreactive to aromatase and estrogen receptors decreased as the grade of tumor malignity increased. Aromatase mRNA expression was present in all biopsies, regardless of malignity grade or patient age or gender. The highest expression of aromatase mRNA in GBM patients was associated to the worst survival prognostic (6.28 months). In contrast lowest expression of ERα mRNA in astrocytoma patients had a worst prognosis. In conclusion, aromatase and ERα expression could be used as prognosis biomarkers for astrocytoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, judithmarceladuenas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dueñas Jiménez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candanedo Arellano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santerre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orozco Suárez
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandoval Sánchez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Feria Romero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Elizalde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso Venegas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Netel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de la Torre Valdovinos
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Dueñas Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase