Estrogen receptor expression in complex and/or atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Endometrial cancer affects approximately 142,000 women worldwide each year, and an estimated 42,000 women die from this cancer. Endometrial carcinoma is categorised into type I endometrial carcinoma and type II endometrial carcinoma. Endometrial hyperplasia and unopposed estrogenic stimulation are a significant risk factor in endometrial carcinogenesis. Type II carcinomas especially serous carcinomas are known to develop in the atrophic endometrium in an older age group and are not associated with hyperestrogenism. Early stage and well differentiated tumors are primarily estrogen and progesterone positive. Expression of estrogen receptors correlates with low tumor grade, low recurrence rate and higher survival. Whereas absence of estrogen receptor expression is associated with a worse prognosis