The Expression Of Sex Hormones In Human Meningiomas

Objective:The aims of this study were to analyze the function of sextual hormnes in the oncogenesis meningiomas and examine the expression of the progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) in human meningiomas,evaluate their correlation with the receptors themselves and with clinicopathologic features.Methods:Parafin embedded sections of meningiomas from 172 patients were examined for the expression of sex hormone receptors using two-step immuno- histochemical methods,the control group is arachnoid biopsy paraffin of 21 cases normal parts。progesterone, androgen and estradiol levels of 96 cases of patients were examined by RIA in the surgery the same day from 6 o'clock of the morning peripheral venous blood 3 m1. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, T Test,rank sum test,analysis of Spearman rank correlation and Anova.Results:(1) AR correlated with PR(r=0.217,P<0.05),but there was no relationship either between PR and ER,or between PR and ER (P>0.05).(2)There are significant expressive differences between meningiomas and the contorl gorup for AR and PR (P<0.05 ).But no evident difference existed for ER (P>0.05).(3)No significant differences were found between all types of sex hormone receptors status and histological subtype of meningiomas,or sex,age of patients.(4) The PR-positive rate was 65.9%(50/76) in all 76 cases.PR-positive rate were 72.3%(34/47) for benign non-recurrent meningiomas, 63.6%(7/11) for benign recurrent meningiomas, 60.0%(6/10)for atypical meningiomas and 37.5%(3/8) for malignant meningiomas (P<0.05).(5) The AR-positive rate was 38.2%(29/76) in all 76 cases.The positive AR rates were 27.7%(13/47)for benign meningiomas,36.4%(4/11) for benign non-recurrent meningiomas,33.3% (4/11) for benign recurrent meningiomas,60.0%(6/10) for atypical meningiomas and 75.0%(6/8) for malignant meningiomas (P<0.05).Conclution:(1) Disorders of sex hormone levels may be an important predisposing factor of meningioma.(2) No significant differences were found between all types of sex hormone receptors status and histological subtype of meningiomas,or sex,age of patients (3) Positive correlation exits between AR and PR,which indicates that the experssion of PR is regulated by the system of androgen (4) PR, AR can be used to determine the expression of benign and malignant tumor,histological grade and prognosis of secondary indicators.