Article Text
Abstract
Estrogen receptor–related receptors (ERRs) are members of orphan nuclear receptors closely related to the estrogen receptors (ERs). Researches showed that the ERRs bound to estrogen response elements and interfered in the ER signal pathway. Therefore, it might be associated with estrogen-dependent diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore whether ERRs were involved in the tumorigenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. We examined the expression of ERRs in endometrial adenocarcinoma and normal endometrium using semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathologic features including FIGO stage, histologic grade, myometrial invasion, and nodal metastasis were reviewed. Results showed that messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of ERRα, ERRβ, and ERRγ were positively associated with the immunoreactivities (P= 0.009, P= 0.014, and P= 0.001, respectively). The expression rate and relative level of ERRα mRNA in ERα-positive endometrial adenocarcinomas were lower than in normal endometriums (P= 0.049 and P= 0.023), whereas the relative level of ERRγ mRNA in ERα-positive endometrial adenocarcinomas was higher than in normal endometriums (P= 0.014). Expression of ERRα mRNA was positively correlated with FIGO stage (P= 0.019) and myometrial invasion (P= 0.043). A negative correlation was observed between expression of ERRγ mRNA and nodal metastasis (P= 0.021). Results suggested that ERRα and ERRγ might participate in the tumorigenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. ERRα and ERRγ are promising to be new prognostic factors in endometrial adenocarcinoma.
- endometrial adenocarcinoma
- estrogen receptors
- estrogen receptor–related receptors
- orphan nuclear receptors