Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status and their prognostic implications in pelvic high-grade serous carcinomas: A retrospective study

Abstract Background: There is mounting evidence that ovarian, tubal and peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) share common origin. It was also suggested that extrauterine HGSCs may originate from endometrium. The aim of this study is to compare the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status among pelvic HGSCs, and to analyze the prognostic role of ER and PR in pelvic HGSCs patients, and the prognostic factors in patients with different ER or PR status Methods: In total, 283 patients diagnosed with ovarian, tubal, peritoneal, and uterine HGSC were retrospectively analyzed. All patients’ diagnosis were reviewed by a panel of gynecologists and pathologists strictly according to criteria based on lesion distribution. Results: Patients in endometrial group were older than ovarian (60.1±8.0 vs. 54.1±8.3, p=0.000) and tubal (60.1±8.0 vs. 55.8±9.5, p=0.008) group. A higher proportion of ovarian group presented with advanced stage disease than fallopian and endometrial group (73.7% vs. 47.2%, p=0.000 and 73.7% vs. 47.4%, p=0.002, respectively). PR positivity rate was much lower in peritoneal compared to ovarian group (25.0% vs. 65.6%, p=0.000). There was no difference in survival rates among four groups. Although ER and PR were not prognostic factors for 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), the prognostic factors were different in patients of distinct ER/PR status. More chemotherapy cycles was a protective prognostic factor in ER(+) or PR(+) patients but not in ER(-) or PR(-) patients. P53 mutation was adverse prognostic factor for OS in PR(-) patients but in PR(+) patients. Conclusions: PR positivity rate were much lower in peritoneal compared to ovarian HGSC. Although ER and PR were not prognostic factors in pelvic HGSCs, prognostic factors for survival were different in patients of different ER/PR status.