Relationship between hormone receptor levels and cell-kinetics in human colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

This study was done to determine the potential role of sex steroid hormone receptors in the development of human colorectal cancer.

METHOD

Receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone(PgR) were investigated in surgical specimens from 22 patients with colorectal cancer, using enzyme immunoassay. These values were examined in relation to cell kinetics parameters determined by DNA flow cytometry.

RESULTS

ER and PgR were detected in 27% and 41%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the expression of ER or PgR according to the age, sex of the patients, tumor size, location, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Although ER status appeared to be independent of DNA parameters, there were better correlations of PgR-negative tumors with increased hyperaneuploid levels. There were significantly higher values of heterogeneity index score in PgR-negative tumors compared with PgR-positive tumors. In the multiple regression analysis, PgR levels proved to be a major independent factor for changes in DNA index and heterogeneity index score.

CONCLUSION

The PgR status is a critical factor for determining the proliferative activity of colorectal cancer tissue and may play a biological role in regulating the growth of the tumor.