EXPRESSION OF PROGESTERONE-RECEPTOR FORM-A AND FORM-B MESSENGER-RNAS IN GYNECOLOGIC MALIGNANT-TUMORS

This study was designed to examine the biological implication of proge sterone receptor (PR) forms A and B mRNA expressions in gynecologic ca ncers. The ratio of PR form A to form B in mRNA expression was approxi mately 1:1 in all endometria studied. The predominant expressions of f orm B transcript occurred in 6 out of 7 cases of advanced stages (stag es III and IV) in ovarian cancers, in 5 out of 9 cases of cervical can cers, and in 5 out of 11 cases of endometrial cancers. In conclusions, the dominancy of PR form B mRNA expression might be associated with t he expression of a malignant phenotype in gynecologic cancers, and adv anced clinical stage in ovarian cancers, suggesting a biological marke r of malignant phenotype in these three types of cancer cell.