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British Journal of Cancer logoLink to British Journal of Cancer
. 2000 Feb 1;82(5):1030–1034. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.1999.1038

Expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas

O Reich 1, S Regauer 2, W Urdl 1, M Lahousen 1, R Winter 1
PMCID: PMC2374426  PMID: 10737385

Abstract

We analysed oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in a retrospective series of 21 low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas (LGSSs). Archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material was analysed by immunohistochemistry. ER and PR were measured with monoclonal antibodies and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and a score was calculated as for breast carcinoma based on both the percentage of positive tumour cell nuclei and the staining intensity. ER were seen in 15 (71%) and PR in 20 (95%) of tumours respectively. ER expression was scored as high in three (14%), moderate in four (19%), and low in eight (38%) tumours. Six (29%) tumours did not stain for ER and all of these were positive for PR. PR expression was scored as high in eight (38%), moderate in ten (47%) and weak in two (10%) LGSSs. Only one (5%) LGSS did not stain for PR (this tumour was positive for ER). ER and PR expression in LGSS is heterogeneous. This may have implications for hormone therapy in the management of these tumours. These results suggest that ER and PR should be routinely quantified in LGSSs by immunohistochemical methods. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords: uterus, cancer, endometrium, stromal sarcoma, oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, immunohistochemistry, treatment

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Footnotes

Part of this work was presented at the XXII International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Nice, France, 18–23 October 1998

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These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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