Y Expression of gonadal steroid receptors in the ovaries of post-menopausal women with malignant or benign endometrial pathology: a pilot study

摘要

This pilot study aimed to investigate the expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), as well as their subtypes [alpha (ER alpha), beta (ER beta)], in the ovaries of postmenopausal women with benign or malignant endometrial pathology. Twenty postmenopausal women (age 66.2 +/- 7.4 years) were included, diagnosed with benign (n - 10) or malignant [(serous/papillary (n = 4), endometrioid (n = 6)] endometrial lesions. Higher ER beta and PR ovarian expressions were observed comparing women with endometrioid versus non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (p = 0.022 and p = 0.029, respectively). Age, age at menarche and presence of hypertension were negatively associated with ERs and PR expression. The expression of ER alpha and ER beta was inversely correlated with menopausal age, which was not verified for PR. No significant association was observed between ERs or PR expression and benign or malignant endometrial pathology. Higher expression of ER beta and PR in the postmenopausal ovary is associated with the presence of a less aggressive type of endometrial cancer, comparing women with endometrioid versus non-endometrioid lesions. The expression pattern of ovarian receptors did not differ regarding the development of benign or malignant endometrial lesions. Larger observational studies are necessary to confirm the significance of our findings.