Abstract
Purpose
Primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are rare but aggressive malignancies. To evaluate therapeutically relevant molecules, ESCC were investigated immunohistochemically.
Material and methods
Eight ESCC were stained with antibodies against estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2/neu, and COX-2 followed by semiquantitative evaluation of the staining results.
Results
Seven out of eight ESCC were negative for estrogen receptor as well as for HER-2/neu. Four tumors showed positivity for progesterone receptor. All ESCC displayed COX-2 overexpression.
Conclusions
Primary ESCC are probably not under hormonal control of estrogens and lack HER-2/neu expression. Thus, anti-hormonal or antibody therapy with herceptine is not indicated. The use of COX-2 inhibitores might be a therapeutic alternative in ESCC that requires further investigation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cao QJ, Einstein MH, Anderson PS, Runowicz CD, Balan R, Jones JG (2002) Expression of COX-2, Ki-67, cyclin D1 and p21 in endometrial endometrioid carcinomas. Int J Gynecol Pathol 21:147–154
Creasman WT, Odicino F, Maisonneuve P, Beller U, Benedet JL, Heintz APM, Ngan HYS, Pecorelli S (2003) Carcinoma of the corpus uteri. FIGO Annual report on the results of treatment in gynecological cancer, vol. 25. Int J Gynecol Obstet 83:79–118
Ferrandina G, Lauriola L, Zannoni GF, Distefano M, Legge F, Salutari V (2002) Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in tumor and stroma components in cervical cancer: clinical implications. Br J Cancer 87:1145–1152
Goldhirsch A, Wood WC, Gelber RD, Coates AS, Thürlimann B, Senn HJ (2003) Meeting highlights: updated international expert consensus on the primary therapy of early breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 21:1–9
Grossman HB (2003) Selective COX-2 inhibitors as chemopreventive and therapeutic agents. Drugs Today 39:203–211
Half E, Ming Tang X, Gwyn K, Sahin A, Wathen K, Sinicrope FA (2002) Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human breast cancers and adjacent ductal carcinoma in situ. Cancer Res 62:1676–1681
Im DD, Shah KV, Rosenhein NB (1995) Report of three new cases of squamous carcinoma of the endometrium with emphasis in the HPV status. Gynecol Oncol 56:464–469
O’Leary JJ, Landers RJ, Crowley M, Healy I, O’Donovan M, Healy V, Kealy WF, Hogan J, Doyle CT (1998) Human papillomavirus and mixed epithelial tumors of the endometrium. Hum Pathol 29:309–310
Rodolakis A, Papaspyrou I, Sotiropoulou M, Markaki S, Michalas S (2001) Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium. A report of three cases. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 22:143–146
Singh-Ranger G, Mokbel K (2002) The role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in breast cancer and implications of COX-2 inhibition. Eur J Surg Oncol 28:729–737
Van Diest PJ, van Dam P, Henzen-Logmans SC (1997) A scoring system for immunohistochemical staining: consensus report of the task force for basic research of the EORTC-GCCG. Clin Pathol 50:801–804
Zidi YSH, Boraoui SW, Atallah K, Kchir N, Haouet S (2003) Primary in-situ squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium with extensive squamous metaplasia and dysplasia. Gynecol Oncol 88:444–446
Acknowledgment
The authors thank Regina Scherling and Kathleen Fahr for their technical help in performing immunohistochemistry.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Horn, LC., Faber, S., Bilek, K. et al. Expression of COX-2 and HER-2/neu and estrogen and progesterone receptor in primary squamous cell carcinomas of the endometrium. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 131, 226–228 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-004-0647-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-004-0647-7