Tissue microarray analysis of hormonal signaling pathways in uterine carcinosarcoma

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 200; no. 4; pp. 457.e1 - 457.e5
• Main Authors: Huang, Gloria S., MD, Arend, Rebecca C., MD, Li, Maomi, MD, PhD, Gunter, Marc J., PhD, Chiu, Lydia G., MPH, Horwitz, Susan Band, PhD, Goldberg, Gary L., MD
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; carcinosarcoma; Carcinosarcoma - chemistry; Carcinosarcoma - metabolism; Carcinosarcoma - pathology; Disease Progression; estrogen receptor; Estrogen Receptor alpha - analysis; Estrogen Receptor alpha - biosynthesis; Estrogen Receptor beta - analysis; Estrogen Receptor beta - biosynthesis; Female; growth factor receptor; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Microarray Analysis; Neoplasm Staging; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pilot Projects; progesterone receptor; Receptors, Growth Factor - analysis; Receptors, Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Receptors, Progesterone - analysis; Receptors, Progesterone - biosynthesis; Signal Transduction; uterine neoplasm; Uterine Neoplasms - chemistry; Uterine Neoplasms - metabolism; Uterine Neoplasms - pathology; carcinosarcoma; growth factor receptor; estrogen receptor; uterine neoplasm; progesterone receptor; Uterus; Tissue microarrays; Gynecology; Malignant tumor; Obstetrics; Cancer; Spindle cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.012

Objectives To evaluate the relationship of hormone (estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, progesterone receptor) and growth factor receptor (insulin-like growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) expression with disease progression in uterine carcinosarcoma. Study Design Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue arrays using standard methodology. Differences between groups were evaluated by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Interactions between tumor stage and receptor expression were determined by linear trend analysis. Results Compared with normal endometrium, carcinosarcomas exhibited low estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor expression (all P < .01), but overexpressed estrogen receptor β ( P = .02). Estrogen receptor β expression increased in advanced stage disease ( P = .02). Insulin-like growth factor receptor expression was lower in carcinosarcoma compared with normal endometrium ( P = .01). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression was elevated and increased with disease progression ( P < .01). Conclusion In uterine carcinosarcoma, estrogen receptor β expression is elevated and increases with disease progression, whereas estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor are suppressed. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression is increased, whereas insulin-like growth factor receptor is lower than in normal endometrium. These data support a potential role for estrogen receptor β in disease progression via crosstalk with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.