Analysis of expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in brain glial tumors and its correlation with expression of p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE All the types of the glial cells contain estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) but their occurrence in glial tumors of the brain is still controversial. The aim of this research was the clinical analysis of ER and PR expression in correlation with histological malignancy and expression of p53 and PCNA. MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation was carried out on a group of 56 patients operated on at the Neurosurgical Department of Wroclaw Medical University. The percentage of tumors containing ER and PR was assessed and mean receptor expressions were compared. Classical histological tests, immunohistochemical tests for ER, PR, p53 and PCNA with monoclonal antibodies (DACO) were performed for every specimen of tumor tissue. RESULTS ER occurred in 24 cases (42.9%), PR in 10 cases (17.9%). 49% of highly malignant gliomas (WHO III and IV) were ER positive, whereas 29% of tumors grade I and II were ER positive. Frequencies of PR positive tumors were similar in both groups. Mean PR expression in p53 positive group was 8% and in p53 negative group 1.5% (p=0.017). Mean ER expression in PCNA positive group was 7.4%, whereas in PCNA negative group 2.7% (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Frequency of ER occurrence is higher in highly malignant tumors. ER expression is correlated with proliferative activity (PCNA). PR expression is positively correlated with intensity of mutant p53 protein.