IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN PRIMARY ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX

Archival material from 47 primary invasive adenocarcinomas of the uter ine cervix was examined using an immunocytochemical technique for dete ction of oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in paraffin-wax embedded tissues. Immunostaining for oestrogen receptor was noted with in tumour cells in 12 cervical adenocarcinomas while 13 tumours contai ned progesterone receptor. Eleven cervical adenocarcinomas expressed b oth oestrogen and progesterone receptor simultaneously. There was no a ssociation between steroid receptor status and major histological subt ype, grade of tumour, clinical stage or age of patient at presentation . However, oestrogen receptor immunoreactivity was associated with dis ease-free survival. This preliminary study raises the possibility that , as in breast carcinoma, steroid receptor status may be a useful prog nostic factor in adenocarcinoma of the cervix.