Steroid hormone receptor and COX-2 expression in chordoma

Am J Clin Pathol. 2007 Sep;128(3):375-81. doi: 10.1309/8T2NPHLK5X5WQ3E7.

Abstract

Reports of sex steroid receptor expression in chordoma suggest that these tumors may be responsive to hormone manipulation therapy. Immunohistochemical stains for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, ER-beta, progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), were performed on a tissue microarray containing 21 samples of chordoma. Most chordomas expressed COX-2, ER-beta, and AR, whereas ER-alpha and PR stains were negative in all cases. ER-beta expression did not correlate with AR expression (P = .4142; McNemar test). There were no statistically significant correlations between the expression of any of these markers and anatomic location of tumor, patient sex, patient age, or disease-free survival. Chordomas commonly express COX-2, AR, and ER-beta. These findings may have therapeutic implications concerning the use of agents that inhibit or modulate these signaling molecules.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chordoma / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Sacrum
  • Skull Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Spinal Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Cyclooxygenase 2