Prognostic significance of hormone receptors in endometrial cancer

Abstract

Background. Endometrial carcinoma is the most common femalé pelvic genital malignancy. Many studies suggest that approximately 75% of all endometrial cancers are clinical Stage I. More than 50% of cancer deaths are in patients with clinical Stage I disease. As a result, prognostic factors have been evaluated in an attempt to identify those patients with presumed early stage disease who will be at high risk for recurrence. Recently, hormone receptor status (estrogen [ER], progesterone [PR]) in endometrial cancer has been suggested to be a prognostic factor. Methods. Two hundred seventeen patients with Stage I and II endometrial cancers were evaluated for cytoplasmic steroid‐receptor status. These results were compared with other prognostic factors in both univariant and multivariant analysis. Results. When ER and PR and combined ER/PR status were analyzed separately, patients with receptor‐positive lesions had significantly better disease‐free survival than those with receptor‐negative lesions. The receptor status was also a significant independent prognostic factor when evaluated by stepwise proportional hazards regression analysis. Conclusions. Hormone receptor status in endometrial cancer appears to be an important prognostic factor. Copyright © 1993 American Cancer Society