Estrogen and progesterone receptor status as prognostic indicators in patients with optimally cytoreduced stage IIIc serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary.

BACKGROUND: Steroid receptor status as a prognostic indicator in gynecologic malignancies has been a focus of study for almost 20 years. Although shown to be of importance in assessing prognosis in some patients with endometrial cancer, their importance in assessing prognosis in patients with serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary is not established.
METHODS: All cases of stage IIIc serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary operated on by the gynecologic oncology service from January 1, 1981, through December 31, 1989, were evaluated for their estrogen and progesterone receptor status, time to recurrence, length of survival, and level of primary cytoreduction as well as FIGO stage, grade, and histology, Fresh tissue was obtained and frozen at the time of surgery for the steroid assays.
RESULTS: Ninety-six patients who had optimal primary cytoreductive surgery for their stage IIIc serous cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary and had their estrogen and progesterone receptor status established were found. Patients with an estrogen receptor level of less than or equal to 10 fmol/mg cytosol protein were shown to have a better mean survival (41 months) than patients with estrogen receptor levels greater than 10 fmol/mg cytosol protein (34 months) (P = 0.015). Five-year survival in the former group (38 patients) was 39.5% while 5-year survival in the latter group (58 patients) was 10.3% (P = 0.001). The was no correlation between progesterone status and survival (P > 0.05) in that same cohort of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with optimally cytoreduced stage IIIc serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary, an estrogen receptor level of less than or equal to 10 fmol/mg cytosol protein may be indicative of a better prognosis. Progesterone receptor status does not appear to affect survival.