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Potential Value of Estrogen Receptor Beta Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma: Interaction with Apoptotic Index

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Abstract

Purpose

The study was designed to investigate the clinicopathological correlations, relationship to apoptotic index, and prognostic significance of estrogen receptor beta expression in colorectal carcinoma.

Methods

The study was carried out on 40 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer. The patients’ data were collected prospectively and the 2 years overall survival was the endpoint. Estrogen receptor beta expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic body index was calculated by counting apoptotic cells using the modified TUNEL assay.

Results

Estrogen receptor beta positivity was detected in 65% of colorectal cancer cases, while estrogen receptor alpha positivity was found in only 7% of cases. The rate of estrogen receptor beta immunoreactivity was significantly higher in low-grade colorectal tumors. The median apoptotic index in estrogen receptor beta positive cases was significantly higher than in estrogen receptor beta negative cases (6% versus 3%; p = 0.01). The median overall survival was higher in estrogen receptor beta positive cases (22 versus 18 months); however, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The study results reinforce the importance of the estrogen receptor beta rather than the estrogen receptor alpha in colorectal cancer. Lack of estrogen receptor beta expression is associated with loss of differentiation and decreased apoptosis. Future studies should include validation of estrogen receptor beta as a prognostic marker and exploration of its role as a target in the management of colorectal cancer.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Hosam Ghazy Elbanna

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed Awad Ebrahim

  3. Oncology Centre, El Gomhoria St., Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed Awad Ebrahim

  4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Amr Medhat Abbas

  5. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Khaled Zalata & Maha Abo Hashim

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  1. Hosam Ghazy Elbanna
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  2. Mohamed Awad Ebrahim
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  3. Amr Medhat Abbas
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  4. Khaled Zalata
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  5. Maha Abo Hashim
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Correspondence to Mohamed Awad Ebrahim.

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Elbanna, H.G., Ebrahim, M.A., Abbas, A.M. et al. Potential Value of Estrogen Receptor Beta Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma: Interaction with Apoptotic Index. J Gastrointest Canc 43, 56–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-010-9214-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-010-9214-4

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