Expression of progesterone receptor form A and B mRNAs in gynecologic malignant tumors

This study was designed to examine the biological implication of progesterone receptor (PR) forms A and B mRNA expressions in gynecologic cancers. The ratio of PR form A to form B in mRNA expression was approximately 1:1 in all endometria studied. The predominant expressions of form B transcript occurred in 6 out of 7 cases of advanced stages (stages III and IV) in ovarian cancers, in 5 out of 9 cases of cervical cancers, and in 5 out of 11 cases of endometrial cancers. In conclusions, the dominancy of PR form B mRNA expression might be associated with the expression of a malignant phenotype in gynecologic cancers, and advanced clinical stage in ovarian cancers, suggesting a biological marker of malignant phenotype in these three types of cancer cell.