EXPRESSION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) have been recog nized as being involved in the tumourigenesis of non-small-cell lung c ancer (NSCLC). Forty-nine resected NSCLC (39 males and 10 females) wer e studied immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded s ections for ER and PgR. There were 26 squamous cell carcinomas, 22 ade nocarcinomas and one adenosquamous carcinoma. 38.8% (19/49) NSCLC had either a positive ER or PgR status of which one was ER+/PgR+, 2 were E R+/PgR- and 16 were ER-/PgR+. There was no statistical difference in h ormone receptors status for sex and histological subtypes (p>0.05). Th e immunohistochemical assay of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded secti ons allows the retrospective analysis of ER and PgR in NSCLC. The ER-/ PgR+ status was detected in about one third NSCLC. The discordance bet ween these receptors is suggested to be due to either the presence of functioning variant ER or the constitutive synthesis of PgR independen t of estrogen induction in certain ER-/PgR+ NSCLC.