Open AccessProgesterone receptor content in endometrial carcinoma correlates with serum levels of free estradiol
Author(s) -
Nyholm Henrik C. J.,
Nielsen Anette L.,
Lyndrup Jens,
Thorpe Susan M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349309058165
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , estrogen , hormone , receptor , estrogen receptor , progesterone receptor , radioimmunoassay , immunohistochemistry , endometrial cancer , hormone receptor , body mass index , cancer , breast cancer
Objective . To study a possible relationship between serum levels of estrogens and androgens and the tumor content of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in endometrial cancer. Study design . Fifty postmenopausal patients were included. Receptors were determined biochemically in tissue cytosol by dextran charcoal‐coated assay and immunohistochemically on frozen sections. Serum sex hormones were measured by radioimmunoassays. Main findings . Tumor biochemical progesterone receptor content correlated positively ( p < 0.05) with free estradiol serum levels. No correlations were observed between estrogen receptor content and any of the serum sex hormones. The progesterone/estrogen receptor ratio, calculated from the biochemical values, correlated positively ( p < 0.05) with the serum levels of free estradiol. This relation was not affected by tumor histologic grade or stage. Furthermore, this ratio correlated positively with body mass index, probably reflecting a correlation between body mass and serum estrogens. Biochemical and immunohistochemical receptor values were correlated. Conclusions . These findings suggest that hormonal regulation of receptor levels may remain preserved in at least some endometrial cancer cells.