title: Immunolocalization of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors (CRHR1 and CRHR2) in human endometrial carcinoma: CRHR1 as a potent prognostic factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a major regulator of the stress response, regulates various biological functions through its interaction with CRH receptors 1 (CRHR1) and 2 (CRHR2). CRH, CRHR1, and CRHR2 have recently been reported in several types of carcinoma, but the significance of these proteins has remained largely unknown in human endometrial carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 87 endometrial carcinoma specimens were obtained from Japanese female patients who underwent surgical treatment, fixed in 10% formalin, and embedded in paraffin wax. Immunohistochemistry for CRH, CRHR1, and CRHR2 was performed, and clinical data were obtained from the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunopositivity of CRH, CRHR1, and CRHR2 in the specimens was 26%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that immunohistochemical CRH status was positively associated with CRHR1 and CRHR2 status and that CRHR1 status was significantly associated with the risk of recurrence and poorer clinical outcome, whereas CRHR2 status was marginally associated with better prognosis for overall survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated CRHR1 status as an independent prognostic factor for both disease-free and overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that intratumoral CRH-CRHR1 signaling plays an important role in the progression of endometrial carcinoma and that CRHR1 is a potent prognostic factor in patients with this disease.
authors.affiliation: Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Sota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Warita
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukudo
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone