Progesterone receptor isoforms A and B in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma: immunohistochemical and RT-PCR studies

• DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1463
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T11:27:09Z
• Authors: J Akahira; T Inoue; T Suzuki; K Ito; R Konno; S Sato; T Moriya; K Okamura; A Yajima; H Sasano
• Keywords: Progesterone receptor

Human epithelial ovarian carcinoma is well-known as a sex steroid-dependent neoplasm, but the possible biological significance of progesterone receptor (PR) in this cancer remains controversial. Recently, two isoforms human PR, PRA and PRB, have been characterized different functional characteristics reported for these isoforms. We therefore examined immunohistochemistry (107 cases) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (16 PRA, oestrogen receptor-a (ER-a). Labeling indices (LI) PRB were 2.4 43.6, respectively, difference was statistically significant. LI, not well performance status, stage, residual tumour turned out to be independent prognostic factors following multivariate analysis. There also significant correlation between ER-a LI (r = 0.595, P < 0.0001), suggestive interaction receptors. RT-PCR detected expression PR isoform transcripts same pattern observed with immunohistochemistry. Results studies indicate that both mediate distinct pathways action carcinoma. Moreover, it important examine factor cases © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com