Androgen Receptor Expression in Endometrial Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic Oncology
• Endocrinology
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• Endometrial carcinoma (ECA) is often hormone-dependent, yet hormone receptor status is not routinely evaluated.
• The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in ECA is largely unknown, despite androgens potentially inhibiting endometrial proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate AR expression in various ECA subtypes.
• To compare AR expression with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status.
• To explore the potential therapeutic implications of AR in ECA.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical staining for AR, ER, and PR was performed on an endometrial tissue microarray.
• The study included 50 ECA samples across different morphologic subtypes, along with benign and atypical hyperplastic endometria.

Main Results:

• AR was expressed in 54% of ECA cases.
• AR expression was observed in the majority of low-grade endometrioid, high-grade endometrioid, and serous carcinomas.
• High AR expression was noted in 50% of serous carcinomas, and AR was present without ER in some high-grade cancers, suggesting potential for androgen antagonism.

Conclusions:

• Over half of endometrial carcinomas exhibit AR positivity.
• AR expression patterns vary across ECA subtypes, with significant presence in common endometrioid and serous types.
• The presence of AR, particularly in ER-negative cases, indicates a potential therapeutic target for androgen inhibition in specific ECA subsets.