Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expressions in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

Kang, Mi Seon; Park, Seo Young; Yoon, Hye Kyoung

Abstract

The effect of androgen in the development of the normal prostate and the evolution of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and prostatic adenocarcinoma has been proven. In addition to androgen, estrogen and progesterone are also thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of BPH and carcinoma. However, their exact roles are not yet known because there is no conclusive evidence. Thirty cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma and 16 cases of BPH were studied. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in epithelial and stromal cells, respectively was performed and the results were assessed semiquantitatively based on the number of positive cells per 100 total cells. Slides were scored as negative; less than 5% of cells, 1 ; 6~15% of cells, 2 ; 16~25% of cells, and 3 ; more than 26% of cells. The relationship between ER and PR expression and the patient's age, histologic grade, and clinical stage was evaluated in prostatic adenocarcinomas. ER was negative in epithelial and in stromal cells for all prostatic adenocarcinomas and BPH cases. The PR expression in epithelial cells and in stromal cells of BPH was noted in 15 (93.8%) and 16 (100.0%) out of 16, respectively. The PR expression of carcinoma cells and stromal cells in prostatic adenocarcinoma was found in 28 (93.3%) and 23 out of 30 (76.7%), respectively. The PR immunoreactivities of stromal cells around carcinoma were 3 in 18 cases, 2 in one case, and 1 in 4 cases, but those of epithelial and stromal cells of BPH and carcinoma cells of prostatic carcinoma were similar to each other with a value of 3 in most cases. The PR expression rate of stromal cells around carcinoma was significantly correlated with the patient's age (p=0.044), but not with histologic grade and clinical stage. In summary, estrogen does not have a direct effect on the biological behavior of BPH and prostatic adenocarcinoma, but progesterone appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of BPH and prostatic adenocarcinoma. Further studies should clarify the biological role of progesterone in the human prostate.