BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the relationship between estrogen receptor (ER) expression and level of serum sexual hormones in male patients with lung cancer.

METHODSThe levels of serum estradiol (E 2), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenising hormone (LH) were measured in 25 patients with lung cancer and 30 healthy men by enzyme immunoassay magnetic solid phase (IEMA), the ER expression was detected in 25 cancer tissues, 25 paracancerous tissues, and 11 benign pulmonary tissues by immunocytochemistry (ICC).

RESULTSThe level of plasma E₂ in male patients with lung cancer was significantly higher than that in normal controls [(22.4±15.7) ng/L [WTBX]vs ( 12.6±4.8) ng/L, P=0.001 9] while the level of T was significantly lower while the level of T was significantly lower [(2.9±1.3) μg/L [WTBX]vs (4.1±1.5) μg/L, P= 0.003 0]. The ratio of E₂/T of male patients with lung cancer was also remarkably higher than that of control . The ratio of E₂/T of male patients with lung cancer was also remarkably higher than that of control [(9.7±10.0) ×10⁻³[WTBX]vs ( 3.4±1.6)×10⁻³, P=0.004 6]. The expression rate of ER in lung cancer tissue samples was 60.0% (15/25), but no ER expression was found in the paracancerous tissues and benign pulmonary tissues. The level of E₂ had positive correlation with the expression of ER in male patients with lung cancer (. The expression rate of ER in lung cancer tissue samples was 60.0% (15/25), but no ER expression was found in the paracancerous tissues and benign pulmonary tissues. The level of E₂ had positive correlation with the expression of ER in male patients with lung cancer (r=0.916 7, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThere are disorders and imbalances of sexual hormone metabolism in male patients with lung cancer, and these imbalances relate to the expression of ER. The elevation of E₂ level in peripheral blood might be related to the overexpression of ER.