EXPRESSIONS OF ESTROGEN RECEPTOR-ALPHA ΑND-BETA AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN ENDOMETRIOSIS

Objective To study the correlation between the expressions of estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) and-β (ER-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endometriosis (EMs) and their association with the prognosis of the disease.Me-thodsThe ER-α, ER-β and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemical technique in endometriosis tissues of 79 patients and normal endometrium of 20 subjects. Their relationship with the prognosis of EMs was analyzed. ResultsThe expressions of ER-α and-β in ectopic endometrium were lower (χ2=9.98,P0.01), and of VEGF was higher than that of normal endometrium (χ2=4.11,P0.05). The expression of ER-β was also lower than that in normal endometrial tissue (χ2=4.23,P0.05). The recurrence rate in patients with high VEGF expression was significantly higher than those with lower VEGF expression (χ2=6.39,P0.05). A higher or lower expression of ER-α in ectopic endometrium was along with a higher or lower expression of VEGF, accordingly (r=0.93,P0.01). ConclusionER-α and ER-β probably involve in the occurrence and development of EMs and in the regulation of angiogenesis of ectopic endomembrane, a detection of VEGF is of great clinical value in predicting the prognosis of endometriosis.