[Expression of ER and AR in lung cancer.].

BACKGROUND

Epidemiology of lung cancer differs between sexes and it might be partially explained by different sex hormone levels in women and men. There are some epidemiological data indicating that gender is a significant, independent prognostic factor in lung cancer. The aim of this study is to determine expression of ER (estrogen receptor) and AR (androgen receptor) in lung cancer, and evaluate the relationship between their expression and clinical or pathologic characteristics.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect expression of ER and AR.

RESULTS

Positive expression of ER and AR were 14.3%(15/105) and 20%(21/105). Positive expression of ER had no relationship with age, gender, pathology, histological differentiation, TNM staging, size of tumor and lymph node metastasis. Although age, gender, pathology, histological differentiation and size of tumor had no effect on the expression of AR, positive rate of AR in staging III lung cancer was significantly higher than that in staging I lung cancer. The different AR expression was significant between N0 and N2 lymph node metastasis (Chi-Square= 4.7828, P=0.0287).

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of ER has no relationship with biological behavior. Positive expression of AR may be correlated with the progression and the lymph node metastasis of lung cancer.