A STUDY ON RECEPTORS OF ESTROGEN, PROGESTERONE AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IN UTERINE LEIOMYOMA

Objective:To study the relationship between estrogen, progesterone, epidermal growth factor (EGF) with uterine leiomyoma.Methods:Expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone reccptor (PR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in uterine leiomyoma and myometrium were determined by immunohistochemical ABC method in cases with uterine leiomyoma. Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone ( P ) levels were measured by immunoenxzymetric assay ( IEMA ) and EGF level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Expressions of ER and EGFR in uterine leiomyoma were significantly higher than those in myometrium ( P 0.05, P 0.01 ) . PR expression in uterine leiomyoma was significantly higher than ER expression ( P 0.005). Expression of EGFR in uterine leiomyoma and myometrium in secretive phase was significantly higher than that in proliferative phase ( P 0.05). Serum E 2 and P levels in leiomyoma group were significantly higher than those in control group during secretive phase ( P 0.05, P 0.001).Serum EGF level in both leiomyoma group and control group in secretive phase was significantly higher than that in proliferative phase ( P 0.001).Conclusion:The growth of uterine leiomyoma is associated with high level of serum E2, P and with strong expression of ER, PR, EGFR in uterine tissuse. It is possible that EGF secretion and EGFR expression may be stimulated by P.