Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2/neu in epithelial ovarian tumors

Abstract

Background and objectivesEpithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is a clinically, morphologically, and molecularly heterogeneous disease. Estrogen receptor (ER) β is highly represented in normal ovarian epithelial cells and benign tumors, but ERα is the main form expressed in OC. ERα-positive OC had a favorable outcome. Progesterone receptor (PR) expression in ovarian tumors is a good prognostic marker associated with longer progression-free survival. Human epidermal growth-factor receptor (HER) 2 expression is associated with a worse prognosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of ER, PR, and HER2/neu in ovarian epithelial tumors and to correlate their expression with different demographic, clinical, and pathological parameters.Patients and methodsSixty cases of primary ovarian epithelial tumors were studied according to their expression to ER, PR, and HER2/neu.ResultsThere was a statistically significant relation between ER IHC and histopathological type of borderline tumor cases and also between PR IHC and histopathological types of both borderline and malignant tumor cases. A statistically significant relation was found between PR IHC and tumor grade and FIGO stage. Triple-negative tumors are significantly associated with mucinous carcinoma and with FIGO stage IV.Interpretation and conclusionLarger studies on a wider scale of patients, especially those with triple-negative ovarian tumor cases, are needed in order to elucidate the exact role of ER, PR, and HER2/neu as a possible prognostic marker in epithelial OC. Other markers are recommended to be used in association with ER, PR, and HER2/neu in order to improve test sensitivity.