Expression of oestrogen progestrone and androgen receptors in salivary gland tumours. A review of literature.

Hormone therapy is highly recommended on patients with breast cancer who show positive nuclear staining of the cancer cells. It is not known however whether salivary gland tumours can respond to hormone therapy. Twenty eight studies undertaken between 1980 to 2009 involving different types of salivary gland cancers were evaluated and taken into consideration the type of used antibody and the criteria to assess the intensity staining. This review has shown that estrogen progesterone and androgen receptors were detected in few cases of salivary gland tumours. Different types of used antibodies were identified, and the criteria of assessment of the staining intensity were different as well. The outcome of this review indicated that the growth of those tumours was not dependent on hormone function. It is recommended that sensitive and specific biochemical methods can be used to determine if estrogen and progesterone receptors can be detected in salivary gland cancers. It is necessary to use one criterion such as positive or negative nuclear staining to determine the existence of estrogen and progesterone receptors and to avoid any bias. The discrepancy in the results reflects a clear need for consensus on a protocol for scoring of immunohistochemical staining.