Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expression in Surface Epithelial Ovarian Tumors and Their Clinicopathological Correlation: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India

Background: Ovarian tumors pose major health problem among women worldwide. Ovaries being a source of estrogen and progesterone are also the targets for these hormones. Therefore, Estrogen and Progesterone receptors are considered to be involved in the ovarian carcinogenesis. Aim: To study ER, PR expression in surface epithelial ovarian tumors and their clinicopathological correlation. Methods: The present study was conducted on 50 cases of ovarian tumors, 31 benign and 19 malignant. Estrogen and progesterone expression was studied by immunohistochemistry and correlated with various clinicopathological parameters such as, menopausal status, histological type, WHO grade and FIGO stage. Results: In total, ER expression was seen in 22 (44%) and PR expression was seen in 19 (38%) cases. Out of 50 cases,26 (52%) were ER, PR negative, 17 (34%) were ER, PR positive, 10% were ER positive, PR negative and 4% were PR positive, ER negative. There was a statistically significant ER expression in malignant tumors (p value <0.05) in comparison to benign and borderline tumors. Among histological type, ER, PR expression was higher in serous and high grade tumors which was statistically significant (p value <0.05). No significant association was found among ER, PR expression and age, menopausal status, grade and FIGO stage. Therefore, identification of these biological prognostic markers can help to select patients for endocrine therapy and to improve treatment planning.