Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expression in Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinomas: A Clinicopathological Study

Background: This study assesses the expressions of estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometrioid carcinomas of the endometrium and their association with established clinicopathological prognostic parameters. Methods: We reviewed the pathology and medical records from 45 cases of endometrioid endometrial carcinomas that were seen from 2006 to 2011 for relevant clinical and histological parameters. Grade I and stage IA tumors were analyzed and compared with higher grades and stages IB- IV. Estrogen and progesterone immunostained slides were analyzed. Results: Patients’ age ranged from 32 to 77 years (mean: 58.13 years). Postmenopausal bleeding was the most common presenting complaint seen in 75.6% of cases. Associated co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and other malignancies were seen in 88% of cases. Myometrial invasion of less than 50% of myometrial thickness was seen in 70.5% cases. There were 40% of tumors classified as FIGO grade 1 and 65.85% were FIGO stage IA. Estrogen and progesterone expressions were seen in 40 (90%) cases, predominantly in FIGO stage I disease. However there was no statistically significant association of estrogen and progesterone expression with any of the clinicopathological prognostic factors. In 23 of the 30 cases that had follow up data, there was no evidence of disease. Of these, only one case was negative for both hormone receptors. Progesterone positivity alone was seen in 87% of cases with no evidence of disease. Conclusions: Nuclear immunostaining with estrogen and progesterone was seen in the majority of cases (90%). Although we have observed a linear increase in progesterone receptor positivity with disease-free survival, this finding needs to be confirmed with additional, larger studies.