Epithelial Dysplasias and their hormone receptor expressions in human uterine cervix caused by human Papilloma virus

Caner cervix is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like India. The pre-neoplastic stages of cancer cervix are Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) and High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL). The major aetiology is high-risk human papilloma virus infection by subtypes like HPV 16,18,33 etc. The human uterine cervical epithelium responds to the sex hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. Many neoplastic and pre-neoplastic conditions of the cervix are known to alter the expression of these receptors. This study aims to evaluate the various degrees of expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in epithelial dysplasias of human uterine cervix caused by High Risk Human Papilloma Virus. 80 cases of cervical biopsies were subjected to Polymerase Chain reaction for High Risk Human Papilloma Virus and histological grading. Immunohistochemical staining was done and nuclear positivity for oestrogen and progesterone receptors was assessed, tabulated and statistically analysed. Both receptors showed significant reduction in the expression of ER and PR in increasing grade of epithelial dysplasia and absent in carcinoma. Dysplastic and malignant changes in the epithelia are accompanied by down regulation of the hormone receptors. This might help in the early detection of cervical cancer.