Evaluation of estrogen receptor expression in low-grade and high-grade astrocytomas.

Cléciton Braga Tavares,Umbelina Soares Borges,Benedito Borges Da Silva,Carla Solange Escórcio-Dourado,Francisca Das Chagas Sheyla Gomes-Braga,Emerson Brandão Sousa,João Paulo Da Silva-Sampaio

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.64.12.1129

Cléciton Braga Tavares, Umbelina Soares Borges + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.64.12.1129

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Abstract

This study aims to compare estrogen receptor expression between low and high-grade astrocytomas. A study using paraffin blocks of glial tumors from the Anatomy Pathology archives of São Marcos Hospital was carried out and began after approval by the Review Board of the Federal University of Piaui. Specimens were histochemically marked with an anti-ER alpha antibody. Brown-stained nuclei were considered positive, regardless of reaction intensity. Data were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's correlation. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05. The mean percentage of nuclei stained with anti-ER alpha in low-and high-grade astrocytomas was 0.04 and zero, respectively, while Spearman's correlation showed a strong negative association between low and high-grade tumors (p<0.001) and (r= -0.67), respectively. In the current study, estrogen receptor expression was positive only in low-grade astrocytomas and nil in high-grade astrocytomas, showing that ER expression declines with the grade of tumor malignancy.

Highlights

Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), astrocytomas may be classified as grades 1 and 2 and grades 3 and 4
High-grade gliomas may have a less poor prognosis that seems to be dependent on the understanding and manipulation of pathways that regulate aberrant tumor growth

Summary

Introduction

Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. These tumors have four histologic subtypes, and astrocytoma is the most prevalent type 1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), astrocytomas may be classified as grades 1 and 2 (low-grade or benign) and grades 3 and 4 (high-grade or malignant). High- grade astrocytomas are highly aggressive tumors. Chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, high-grade tumors have a poor prognosis [1,2,3,4]. High-grade gliomas may have a less poor prognosis that seems to be dependent on the understanding and manipulation of pathways that regulate aberrant tumor growth. There is a need for further diagnostic methods and new prognostic biomarkers [5,6,7]

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