Highly concordant coexpression of aromatase and estrogen receptor β in non-small cell lung cancer ☆

Summary Estrogen receptor expression has been reported in non–small cell lung cancer. We examined the correlation between aromatase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of estrogen, and estrogen receptor expressions in 105 non–small cell lung cancer cases. All patients were older than 60 years, and all female patients were postmenopausal. Estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor were detected in only 1 and 14 cases, respectively. Estrogen receptor β and aromatase were positive in 75 and 89 cases respectively. Estrogen receptor β expression in non–small cell lung cancer showed an inverse correlation with lymph node metastasis ( P P P P P