Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in human colorectal adenoma and carcinoma using specified automated cellular image analysis system: a clinicopathological study

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors [ER] and progesterone receptors [PR] in colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma and to correlate this immunohistochemical expression with different clinicopathological parameters. The study was retrospectively designed. A total of 86 tissue samples, including 33 paraffin blocks from patients with colorectal adenomas, 33 paraffin blocks from patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas and a control group of 20 samples of non-tumorous colonic tissue, were included in the study. The frequency of expression of ER and PR showed a gradual increase from control through adenoma to carcinoma. The frequencies of expression of ER in the control, adenoma and carcinoma were [10%, 15.15% and 42.42% respectively, p<0.001], while the frequency of expression for PR were [10%, 24.24% and 36.36% respectively, p<0.001]. Strong ER and PR staining was mainly seen in carcinoma cases [42.42%, 36.36%, respectively] in comparison with adenoma [9.09%, 15.15%, respectively] and control [0%, 0%, respectively]. The three digital parameters of ER and PR immunohistochemical expression [Area [A], Number of objects [N], and intensity [I]] were significantly increased in a sequence of normal mucosa-adenoma-carcinoma. There was a significant positive correlation between ER and PR in adenoma [r=0.312, p=0.034] and carcinoma [r=0.321, p=0.0398]. ER and PR expression increased in a sequence of; normal colonic mucosa-adenoma-carcinoma, and a positive correlation was observed between ER and PR expression in colonic adenoma and carcinoma specimen indicating that ER and PR may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis