Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor and Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in Normal Myometrium and in Leomyoma

Abstract

Frederic Buxant, Sven Saussez and Jean Christophe Noel

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign smooth muscle tumour that originates from the myometrium. Ovarian sex steroids are responsible for the growth of such tumours, though estrogen and progesterone are not the only modulators involved in the tumourigenesis and growth of leiomyomata. The activation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can induce the expression and activity of estrogen sulfotransferase, an enzyme that generally inactivates estrogen, because of the effects of sulfonated estrogen fails to activate the estrogen receptor, it is of interest to know whether GR is present or not in leiomyomata and in the normal myometrium. The aim of this study is to analyse the expression of GR in leiemyoma and myometrium. Method: The immunohistochemistry of 47 patients was tested to find the expression status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and GR in leiemyoma and normal myometrium.

Results: GR, ER and PR were expressed in both normal myometrium and in leiomyoma. There was a significant difference in the expression of GR found in normal myometrium compared with those expressed in leiomyoma (Allred Score, 256±29 versus 91 ±23). The GR expressed was significantly lower than the ER and PR expressed in leiomyoma.

Conclusion: This presence of GR in the normal myometrium and in myomas is interesting and could be used for therapeutic action. But, first, the roles of G on myomas have to be understand.

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