GPR30: a novel indicator of poor survival for endometrial carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between GPR30, classical steroidal receptor expression, and clinical outcome in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Study design: Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of GPR30, estrogen, progesterone, epidermal growth factor receptors and Ki-67 in 47 consecutive consenting patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed between 1997 and 2001. Results were correlated with clinical and pathologic predictors of adverse outcome and survival.

Results: GPR30 correlated positively with epidermal growth factor receptor (P = .005), but negatively with progesterone (P = .05) receptor expression. GPR30 overexpression occurred more frequently in tumors with deep myometrial invasion, high-grade, biologically aggressive histologic subtypes, and advanced stage. In patients with GPR30 overexpression, survival was significantly poorer (65.2% vs 100%, P = .005).

Conclusion: GPR30 represents an alternative estrogen-responsive receptor that is overexpressed in tumors where estrogen and progesterone receptors are downregulated, and in high-risk endometrial cancer patients with lower survival rates.