Estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in uterine and extrauterine leiomyosarcomas: an immunohistochemical study.

Abstract

The authors have noted anecdotal cases of extrauterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) with estrogen receptor (ER) and progester-one receptor (PR) immunoreactivity. However, there are few studies that have compared ER and PR immunoexpression in LMS of uterine and extrauterine origin. The authors obtained a representative formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block from cases of uterine LMS (n = 15) and extrauterine LMS (n = 16) from the archives of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and performed immunohistochemical staining for ER and PR. Staining was evaluated by 2 observers in a semiquantitative manner using the following scale: 0, no nuclear staining; 1+, 1 to 25% of nuclei stained; 2+, 26 to 50% of nuclei stained; 3+, 51 to 75% of nuclei stained; 4+, 76 to 100% of nuclei stained. The majority of uterine LMS stained for ER (13 of 15, 87%), PR (12 of 15, 80%), or both ER and PR (12 of 15, 80%), with most cases showing 3+ or 4+ positive staining. For the extrauterine LMS cases, staining for ER was seen in 4 of 16 cases (25%), staining for PR was observed in 2 of 16 cases (13%), and staining for both ER and PR was seen in 2 of 16 cases (13%). One extrauterine LMS showed 4+ coexpression of ER and PR, but the remaining extrauterine cases showed only 1+ ER and/or PR immunoreactivity. These data suggest that most uterine LMS coexpress ER and PR, and most extrauterine LMS do not stain for these antigens. However, a subset of extrauterine LMS are ER and/or PR immunoreactive. This raises the possibility that hormonal manipulation may be beneficial in the treatment of these therapeutically recalcitrant tumors.

• Authors: Todd W Kelley, Ernest C Borden, John R Goldblum
• Journal: Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM (Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol) Vol. 12 Issue 4 Pg. 338-41 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 1541-2016 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15536333 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Leiomyosarcoma (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, Estrogen (analysis, metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (analysis, metabolism)
• Sex Factors
• Uterine Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Uterus (immunology, pathology)