Changes in the expression of Oestrogen Receptors and E-cadherin as molecular markers of progression from normal epithelium to invasive cancer in elderly patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot study

Gian Franco Zannoni (1) , Maria Grazia Prisco (2) , Valerio Gaetano Vellone (1, 2) , Ilaria de Stefano (2) , Giovanni Scambia (2) , Daniela Gallo (3)

1 Histopathology
2 Obstetrics and Gynecology
3 Obstetrics and Gynecology

Aim-The most common vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (conventional SCC) occurs in elderly women and develops following a HPV-negative pathway. Since the highest incidence of conventional SCC is observed in patients with low oestrogen levels (postmenopausal women), we sought to investigate whether hormonal factors could play a role in the development of cancer. Methods and Results-The expression profile of oestrogen receptor α (ERα), ERβ and PR, in a section containing both normal and tumour tissue, as well as the SCC-associated vulvar lesion, was evaluated in thirty-four elderly patients. Besides, since recent studies have identified E-cadherin as a novel transcriptional target of oestrogen signalling, the modulation of this Epithelial-Mesenchimal-Transition (EMT) marker was studied. Finally, the expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 and of the apoptotic marker p53 was assessed. Results showed that changes in both ERα and ERβ expression characterize the transition from normal epithelium to cancer in patients with vulvar SCC: ERα was lost in cancer, while ERβ decreased, mainly showing cytoplasmic localization. A reduction in the expression of E-cadherin was also observed in tumours, compared with normal epithelium. Conclusion-Data from the present pilot study puts the ER signalling pathway into the spotlight as a potentially important player in vulvar carcinogenesis.

Mots clés: Medicine

Gian Franco Zannoni, Maria Grazia Prisco, Valerio Gaetano Vellone, Ilaria de Stefano, Giovanni Scambia, et al.. Changes in the expression of Oestrogen Receptors and E-cadherin as molecular markers of progression from normal epithelium to invasive cancer in elderly patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot study. Histopathology, 2011, 58 (2), pp.265. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03744.x⟩. ⟨hal-00614747⟩