RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Progesterone and androgens are important for normal development and tumorigenesis of the breast. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Breast tissue samples from 49 premenopausal women were obtained. The progesterone receptors (PRA, PRB, PGRMC1 and PGRMC2) and the androgen receptor (AR) were determined in malignant and benign breast tumors and control tissues. RESULTS: The PRB and AR mRNA levels were highest in tumors. PGRMC1 and PGRMC2 mRNA levels were higher in malignant tumors compared to their paired normal tissues. PRA protein showed most immunostaining in benign tumors. PRB immunostaining varied according to menstrual phase. AR immunostaining was highest in the glands of malignant tumors. CONCLUSION: Progesterone and androgen receptors are differently regulated in tumors compared to normal breast tissues. A malignant breast tumor could appear PR-negative if collected in the luteal phase, but positive in the follicular phase. This finding may have clinical implications.
Assuntos
Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Pré-Menopausa/genética , Receptores Androgênicos/genética , Receptores de Progesterona/genética , Adulto , Feminino , Fase Folicular/genética , Fase Folicular/metabolismo , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Fase Luteal/genética , Fase Luteal/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pré-Menopausa/metabolismo , Receptores Androgênicos/metabolismo , Receptores de Progesterona/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase ReversaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Estrogen hormones have a large impact on both normal development and tumorigenesis of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast tissue samples from 49 women undergoing surgery were included. The estrogen receptors (ERα and ERß), ERα36 and G-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER) were determined in benign and malignant breast tissue. RESULTS: The ERα36 and ERα mRNA levels were highest in malignant tumors. Stromal ERß immunostaining in benign tumors was higher than in the paired normal tissue. GPER expression was lowest in benign tumors. In the malignant tumors, the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) correlated positively with stromal GPER and the serum testosterone level. The serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level correlated negatively with GPER mRNA and glandular ERα. CONCLUSION: The expression of ERα36 is stronger in malignant breast tissue. The strong positive correlation between NPI and GPER in malignant breast stroma indicates an important role for GPER in breast cancer prognosis.