The effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on the immunohistochemical expression of estradiol (E2) was investigated in 25 cases of endometrial carcinoma. Twenty-three cases of the endometrial carcinomas showed positive Immunoreactivity for E2. The immunohistochemical expression of E2 was more intensive in carcinoma cells than in stromal cells. Although the morphologic alterations induced by MPA treatment were observed only in 2 cases who were administered more than 30,000 mg of MPA, the staining intensity in most cases appeared to decrease after the treatment. The decrease in E2 immunoreactivities of cancer cells as well as of stromal cells in Grade 1 or Grade 2 was significant. These results suggest that MPA might decrease the E2 content in endometrial carcinoma cells as well as in stromal cells.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BuringJ.E., BainC.J., EhrmannR.L.: Conjugated estrogen use and risk of endometrial cancer. Am. J. Epidemiol., 124: 434–441, 1986.
2.
CreasmanW.T., McCartyK.S.Sr., BartonT.K., McCartyK.S.Jr.,: Clinical correlates of estrogen- and progesterone-binding proteins in human endometrial adenocarcinoma. Obstet. Gynecol., 55: 364–370, 1980.
3.
DicarloF., ContiG., ReboaniC.: Interference of gestagens and androgens with rat uterine oestrogen receptors. J. Endocrinol, 77: 49–55, 1978.
4.
DicarloF., PacilioG., ContiG.: Mechanism of action of progestins in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer (author's transi). Tumori, 61: 50–508, 1975.
HendersonB.E., RossR., BernsteinL.: Estrogens as a cause of human cancer. Cancer Res., 48: 246–253, 1988.
9.
HighmanB., GreenmanD.L., NorvellM.J., FaermerJ., ShellenbergerT.E.: Neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions induced in female C3H mice by diets containing diethyistilbestrol or 17 β-estradiol. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol., 4: 81–95, 1980.
10.
HsuehA.J., PeckE.J., ClarkJ.H.: Progesterone antagonism of the oestrogen receptor and oestrogen-induced uterine growth. Nature, 254: 337–339, 1975.
11.
JelovsekF.R., HammondC.B., WoodardB.H., DraffinR., LeeK.L., CreasmanW.T., ParkerR.T.: Risk of exogenous estrogen therapy and endometrial cancer. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 137: 85–91, 1980.
12.
KelseyJ.L., LiVolsiV.A., HolfordT.R., FischerD.B., MostowE.D., SchwartzP.E., O'ConnorT., WhiteC.: A case-control study of cancer of the endometrium. Am. J. Epidemiol., 116: 333–342, 1982.
13.
KingR.J., TownsendP.T., SiddleN., WhiteheadM.I., TaylorR.W.: Regulation of estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in epithelium and stroma from pre- and postmenopausal endometria. J. Steroid Biochem., 16: 21–29, 1982.
14.
KingR.J., TownsendP.T., WhiteheadM.I., YoungO., TaylorR.W.: Biochemical analysis of separated epithelium and stroma from endometria of premenopausal and postmenopausal women receiving estrogen and progestins. J. Steroid Biochem., 14: 979–987, 1981.
15.
KohornE.I.: Gestagens and endometrial carcinoma. Gynecol. Oncol., 4: 398–411, 1976.
16.
McLachlanJ.A., NewboldR.R., BullockB.C.: Long-term effects on the female mouse genital tract associated with prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol. Cancer Res., 40: 3988–3999, 1980.
17.
NewboldR.R., BullockB.C., McLachlanJ.A.: Uterine adenocarcinoma in mice following developmental treatment with estrogens; a model for hormonal carcinogenesis. Cancer Res., 50: 7677–7681, 1990.
18.
NordqvistS.: Effects of progesterone on human endometrial carcinoma in different experimental systems. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand., 19 (suppl.): 25–29, 1972.
19.
PollowK., BoquoiE., LübbertH., PollowB.: Effect of gestagen therapy upon 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human endometrial adenocarcinoma. J. Endocrinol., 67: 131–132, 1975.
20.
SalernoL.J.: Feminizing mesenchymomas of the ovary. An analysis of 28 granulosa-theca cell tumors and their relationship to coexisting carcinoma. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 84: 731–738, 1962.
21.
ShapiroS., KaufmanD.W., SloneD., RosenbergL., MiettinenO.S., StolleyP.D., RosensheinN.B., WatringW.G., LeavittT.Jr., KnappR.C.: Recent and past use of conjugated estrogens in relation to adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. N. Engl. J. Med., 303: 485–489, 1980.
22.
TsengL., GurpideE.: Induction of human endometrial estradiol dehydrogenase by progestins. Endocrinology, 97: 825–833, 1975.
23.
WeissN.S., SzekelyD.R., EnglishD.R., SchweidA.I.: Endometrial cancer in relation to patterns of menopausal estrogen use. JAMA, 242: 261–264, 1979.
24.
YungP.C., KeenF.K., EinhornL.H., StanichB.M., EhrlichC.E., ClearyR.E.: Binding of medroxyprogesterone acetate in human breast cancer. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 137(3): 284–292, 1980.
