THE HORMONAL RECEPTOR STATUS OF UTERINE CARCINOSARCOMAS (MIXED MULLERIAN TUMORS) - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Aim-To investigate the role of oestrogen and progesterone receptor sta tus in uterine carcinosarcomas (mixed Mullerian tumours) to see whethe r the receptors were identifiable, and if so whether they were of sign ificance clinically. Methods-11 cases of uterine carcinosarcoma were i dentified from clinical and pathology records. An immunohistochemical method was used to demonstrate oestrogen and progesterone hormone rece ptors on paraffin embedded material, with suitable tissue controls, st aining being recorded. Results-10 of 11 cases showed staining for one or both hormone receptors in normal tissue adjacent to tumour. In four carcinosarcoma cases, staining for one or both receptors was shown wi thin the epithelial component (appearing to correlate with the degree of epithelial differentiation); two of these cases had staining within sarcomatous areas. Two of the three patients still alive had epitheli al hormone receptor positivity. Conclusions-Receptors for oestrogen an d progesterone were found in four of 11 cases of uterine carcinosarcom a, using paraffin embedded material. There may be an association betwe en hormone receptor positivity and clinical outcome.