Immunohistochemical Expression of Estrogen Receptor Beta in Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder

Abstract

Background: The tenth most prevalent cancer type in the world is bladder cancer. Males are four times more likely than females to have it. The most prevalent subtype is urothelial carcinoma. Development and progression of bladder cancer are influenced by estrogen receptors. Objectives: To examine the expression of estrogen receptor beta in bladder urothelial carcinoma and how it relates to other pathological factors of prognostic significance. Materials and method: Fifty formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of cases of urothelial carcinoma from transurethral resection and radical cystectomy specimens were examined histopathologically by routine H&E stain and immunohistochemically stained with Anti-ER-beta antibody. The immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor beta was assessed. Results: Of the 50 cases of urothelial carcinoma, mean age 60 ±8.7 range (41-85) years, 34 male and 16 female, estrogen receptor beta was expressed in 29 (58%) of the cases. The expression of ERβ was significantly elevated in high grade (p value 0.006). The ERβ expression was also significantly increased in advanced tumor stages (p value 0.03) and in muscle invasive tumor (p value 0.004). The presence of lymphovascular emboli was associated with higher ERβexpression. Conclusion: ERβ expression is significantly associated with high grade and with advanced stages of urothelial carcinoma.