Expression of estrogen receptors ERalpha and ERbeta in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma

We assessed the expression of estrogen receptors (ER)alpha and ERbeta in 114 human endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of both ER isoforms in human endometrial tissue by immunohistochemistry. From normal proliferation to simple and complex hyperplasia, the expression of ERalpha was increased (P < 0.05), while ERbeta did not change much (P > 0.05). In atypia hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma, both ERalpha and ERbeta were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Most endometrial adenocarcinomas expressed ERalpha, either alone or in combination with ERbeta, and the ERbeta/ERalpha ratio was decreased when compared to normal proliferation (P < 0.05). Also, we found that the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta has no relationship with the status of lymph node of adenocarcinoma (P > 0.05). Both ERalpha and ERbeta play an important role in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinomas, the levels of ERalpha and ERbeta appear be used as prognostic indicators.