STEROID-HORMONE RECEPTOR CONTENT AND LYMPH-NODE STATUS IN ENDOMETRIALCANCER

The purpose of this study was to correlate the steroid hormone recepto r status in endometrial adenocarcinoma with tumor metastasis to the pe lvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, and with other known prognostic vari ables which influence survival. Tumor samples from 85 patients with en dometrioid adenocarcinoma, or adenocarcinoma with squamous differentia tion of the endometrium who underwent complete surgical staging, were assayed for cytoplasmic steroid hormone receptors using a dextran-coat ed charcoal technique. Steroid hormone receptor content was correlated to lymph node status, along with other prognostic variables, such as patient's age, depth of myometrial invasion, tumor grade, and pelvic c ytology. By univariate analysis, the likelihood of nodal involvement w as associated with younger age and poorly differentiated tumors. Multi variate analysis revealed that age, tumor grade, and myometrial involv ement added significant independent prognostic information. Estrogen o r progesterone receptor content did not add independent prognostic inf ormation concerning lymph node status once other factors were controll ed. Knowledge of estrogen and progesterone receptor binding status in adenocarcinoma of the uterus does not replace the prognostic informati on imparted by careful sampling of lymph nodes. (C) 1995 Academic Pres s, Inc.