EXPRESSION PATTERNS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ESTROGEN RECEPTOR, PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR, AND HUMAN EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR 2/neu IN GALLBLADDER CANCER.

Abstract

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a rare cancer. However, it is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract system and ranks as the sixth most common malignancy of the digestive tract. It occurs primarily in females, and previous reports indicate that the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu (HER2/neu) play significant roles in GBC. However, reported findings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the expression status of ERα, ERβ, PR, and HER2/neu in GBC and to investigate their associations with clinicopathological features of patients.

Materials and methods: 55 GBC patients were included in the study. The expression levels of ERα, ERβ, PR, and HER2/neu proteins were evaluated using immunohistochemistry method.

Results: ERα expression was absent in all cases, while PR and HER2/neu positivity were observed in 5.5% and 18.2% cases, respectively. Of total, 34 (61.8%) cases showed positive expression of ERβ. Compared with adjacent normal tissues, ERβ mean positivity was higher in GBC tissues. Significant associations were found between ERβ expression and tumor differentiation and gallstones (p < 0.05). Predominant expression of ERβ was observed in GBC of stages II and III.

Conclusion: ERβ was frequently expressed in GBC and significantly associated with tumor differentiation, suggesting its potential role in progression of GBC.