Expression of estrogen receptors-beta and aromatase activity in primary mammary gland tumors

• Published in: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine 2003-11, Vol.136 (5), p.487-489
• Main Authors: Bershtein, L M, Zimarina, T S, Poroshina, T E, Kovalevskii, A Yu, Tsyrlina, E V, Zhiltsova, E K, Semiglazov, V F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aromatase - biosynthesis; Aromatase - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - enzymology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen Receptor beta; Female; Gene Expression; Genotype; Humans; Middle Aged; Receptors, Estrogen - biosynthesis; Receptors, Estrogen - genetics; Receptors, Progesterone - biosynthesis; Receptors, Progesterone - genetics
• ISSN: 0007-4888
• DOI: 10.1023/B:BEBM.0000017101.65957.4d

Expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta was studied by the PCR method in 22 primary receptor-positive or receptor-negative breast carcinomas obtained during surgical intervention from patients aged 41-77 years and activity of aromatase in the same specimens was evaluated by the formation of tritiated water from labeled androgen precursor. Expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta was more often detected in receptor-positive tumors characterized by lower aromatase activity. The authors conclude that the intensity of local production of estrogens can be one of the regulators of their expression, limiting this expression in case of more active production of estrogen in the tumor. On the other hand, there were no differences in the expression of estrogen beta-receptor gene or in detection of this receptor by immunocytochemical method in primary tumors lacking one of these receptors, and hence, this form of estrogen receptors is less involved in induction of progesterone receptors than alpha-receptors.