Estrogen and its impact on mesothelioma

A recently concluded research in New South Wales, Australia can reveal the hormones may impact survival differences in men and women diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

The sex hormone estradiol is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal gland in women. It is an active metabolic product of testosterone (although in much lower levels) in men. Estradiol, considered the most important estrogen in the body, it was revealed, is linked in cellular propagation of different cancers via estrogen receptors.

One type of cancer that may be triggered by estrogen is the peritoneal mesothelioma, a type of cancer that spreads throughout the thin lining of the abdomen. The Australian researchers underwent immunohistochemical testing to assess estrogen receptors in 42 patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.

It was revealed that thirty-three patients contain specific type of estrogen receptor (ER-â) in the cell nucleus. Nine patients revealed cellular cytoplasm with ER-â, a gel-like substance located in the cells, between the cell wall and the nucleus.

Comparing the estrogen receptor levels with mesothelioma results, the study revealed that the presence and location of estrogen receptors seemed to have a significant effect. According to the researchers, “The absence of ER-â (nuclear) and the presence of ER-â (cytoplasm) were found to be independent predictive factors for poor disease outcome.”  Recent studies also suggested that estrogen receptors “are also prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer.”

Aside from predicting the lifespan of a patient, formulating a reliable mesothelioma prognosis can also predict the treatment plan that a patient should receive, given that mesothelioma cancer quickly spreads and may be most of the time resistant to conventional therap. While there are factors that could influence mesothelioma prognosis, like age, sex, cancer stage, histology, and many other biomarkers, this new study can tell that the presence or absence of estrogen receptors can predict what individualize treatment could best result to improved outcomes.

However, the Australian study on mesothelioma and estrogen receptors is but small. In fact, the researchers admitted that their findings will require further support from larger studies before incorporating the information into clinical practice in providing treatment to mesothelioma cancer.