Pattern of Expression of Oestrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Ovarian Carcinoma from a Tertiary Center in Nigeria: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.
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Keywords
Ovarian carcinoma, oestrogen, progesterone
Abstract
Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most common malignancy among women globally and a major cause of cancer-related mortality, with approximately 239,000 new cases and 152,000 deaths each year. Despite extensive research, there is currently no effective public health screening method for early detection, as commonly used investigations such as CA-125 testing, transvaginal ultrasonography, and bimanual examination lack sufficient diagnostic accuracy. This study evaluated the patterns of oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in ovarian cancer cases in Kano State, Nigeria.
Methodology: Relevant demographic data were obtained from laboratory records. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining, followed by immunohistochemical analysis for ER and PR. Tumours were classified according to histological type and grade, and receptor expression was assessed based on immunostaining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, version 26.
Result: Sixty ovarian cancer cases were analysed, with patient ages ranging from 10 to 75 years (mean age 52 ± 14 years). High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) was the predominant histological subtype, accounting for 63.3% of cases, followed by mucinous carcinoma (15%). Endometrioid carcinoma and malignant Brenner tumour each represented 8.3% of cases, while low-grade serous carcinoma was the least common (5%). Most cases occurred in the sixth decade of life, with HGSC comprising 74% of tumours in this age group. Oestrogen receptor (ER) positivity was observed in 40% of cases, with HGSC showing the highest ER expression. In contrast, progesterone receptor (PR) positivity was low (15%), with most PR-positive cases also being HGSC.
Conclusion: OC incidence increased with age, predominantly affecting women aged 50 years and above. The relatively high ER expression and low PR expression highlight the potential role of hormone receptor profiling in guiding personalised treatment strategies for ovarian cancer in this setting.
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