J Breast Cancer.  2011 Sep;14(3):185-190.

G-protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 Expression in Primary Breast Cancers and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Variables

• Luo HJ
• Luo P
• Yang GL
• Peng QL
• Liu MR
• Tu G

Abstract

PURPOSE
G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) probably play important roles in the progression of breast cancer including endocrine therapeutic resistance. We evaluated GPER in primary breast cancers.
METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect GPER in paraffin-embedded tissues of primary breast cancers from 423 patients and GPER expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors.
RESULTS
GPER was expressed in 63.8% of specimens, coexpressed with estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in 36.6% of tumors and was positive in 62.5% of the ERalpha-negative tumors. The expression of GPER had no relationship with the status of ERalpha, progesterone receptor and HER2. Although the expression of GPER was significantly inversely related with nodal status (p=0.045), no correlation between GPER expression and other clinicopathological variables (age, menstruation status, tumor size, stage, histologic grade, Nottingham Prognostic Index or pathological type) was found.
CONCLUSION
GPER and ERalpha exhibited independent expression pattern of distribution in primary breast cancers. A long-term follow-up and a more definite molecular phenotype for ER are necessary in confirming studies.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Estrogen Receptor alpha
Estrogens
Female
Follow-Up Studies
GTP-Binding Proteins
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Menstruation
Phenotype
Receptors, Progesterone
Estrogen Receptor alpha
Estrogens
GTP-Binding Proteins
Receptors, Progesterone

Figure

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  Figure 1 Immunohistochemical staining (DAB) of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) in breast cancers. (A) Positive cytoplastic staining pattern. (B) Negative staining paradigm (immunohistochemical stain, ×200).

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