The role of steroid hormone receptors in prostate cancer. A study of estrogen- and progesterone receptors in adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Abstract

Steroid hormones and their receptors are vital for numerous physiological processes in the human body, but also related to the development of several malignancies. One such receptor strongly associated with prostate cancer, is the androgen receptor. Other steroid hormone receptors are also implicated in prostate cancer, their role, however, remains to be defined. Using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray technology, we sought to examine the tissue distribution of a selection of steroid hormone related biomarkers in radical prostatectomy specimens from our cohort of 535 prostate cancer patients. Further, we investigated the association with marker expression and patient outcome. The included biomarkers were the progesterone receptor and its isoforms, A and B, the estrogen receptor- alpha and beta and aromatase, the enzyme converting androgens to estrogen. In prostate cancer, a great challenge remains in separating patients with indolent disease from those with an aggressive cancer. This has motivated the search for prognostic biomarkers that can aid patients risk stratification and guide treatment decisions. In our research, a significant and independent prognostic value was observed for all investigated biomarkers. Based on these observations, we propose a role of these steroid hormone related receptors and enzyme in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. With further validation, they could have potential as prognostic biomarkers, and possibly a value in future prostate cancer treatment.