High expression of progesterone receptor may be an adverse prognostic factor in oestrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer: results of comprehensive re-evaluation of multi-institutional case series.

Oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative (-) progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive (+) is the least common combination of steroid receptor expression observed in breast cancer. There are many controversies regarding the actual existence of ER-/PgR+ phenotype. In the current study, we aimed to perform comprehensive immunohistochemical re-evaluation of ER-/PgR+ breast cancers from multiple institutions. A total of 135 cases of ER-/PgR+ breast cancer were collected from 11 institutions from the period 2006-2020 and subsequently stained with three clinically validated anti-ER antibody clones: SP1 (Roche), 1D5 (Dako), and EP1 (Dako), and two anti-PgR antibody clones: 636 (Dako), and 1E2 (Roche). Clinicopathological characteristics of confirmed and re-categorised cases were analysed. Seventy-six cases retained the original ER-/PgR+ phenotype, including 21 HER2+ and 55 HER2- tumours. Forty-seven cases were ER+ with at least one anti-ER antibody, and 12 cases were re-categorised as double-negatives across all anti-ER and anti-PgR antibodies. No significant differences in survival were observed between groups in the HER2+ category. In the HER2- cohort, confirmed ER-/PgR+, ER+ tumours with discrepant ER staining, and triple negatives had inferior overall survival compared to concordant ER+ cases. Progesterone receptor expression in >20% of cells was identified as an adverse prognostic factor in ER-/PgR+/HER2- breast cancer in a multivariable model adjusted by stage (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.3-19.2, p=0.019). We performed one of the largest validation studies so far on ER-/PgR+ breast cancer and confirmed the existence of this subgroup. Moreover, we identified high PgR expression as an adverse prognostic factor.

The effect of low vitamin D status on sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in apparently healthy men: a pilot study.

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with sexual dysfunction in apparently healthy women and with erectile dysfunction in men with the presence of concomitant disorders. This study was aimed at investigating sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in young men with low vitamin D status. The study included 15 apparently healthy men (18-40 years old) with vitamin D deficiency (group A), 16 subjects with vitamin D insufficiency (group B), and 16 men with normal vitamin D status (group C). All participants of the study completed questionnaires investigating their sexual function (the International Index of Sexual Function-15-IIEF-15 for heterosexual men), as well as the presence and severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition-BDI-II). Compared with healthy men, subjects with vitamin D deficiency obtained lower scores for erectile function, orgasmic function, and sexual desire, while individuals with vitamin D insufficiency lower scores only for erectile function. Erectile dysfunction was more prominent in group A than group B. The total BDI-II score was higher in group A than in the other study groups. The results of the study suggest that low vitamin D status impairs male sexual functioning and severity of sexual dysfunction correlates with the degree of hypovitaminosis D.

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in young women with low vitamin D status.

BACKGROUND: Hypovitaminosis D is associated with abnormal female sexual functioning. The aim of our study was to assess whether vitamin D supplementation affects sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in young women with low vitamin D status. METHODS: The study included 47 women with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. All women with vitamin D deficiency were treated with oral vitamin D, while women with vitamin D insufficiency were either treated with vitamin D or left untreated. At the beginning of the study and six months later, all patients completed questionnaires evaluating female sexual function (FSFI) and depressive symptoms (BDI-II). RESULTS: The total FSFI score and scores in three domains (sexual desire, orgasm and satisfaction) were lower while the overall BDI-II score was higher in women with vitamin D deficiency than in women with vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D improved sexual desire in women with both vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency, increased the total FSFI score and scores for orgasm and sexual satisfaction, as well as decreased the total BDI-II score in women with vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate that vitamin D supplementation improves female sexual functioning and mood in women with low vitamin D status. < p > < /p >.