Progesterone receptor in non-small cell lung cancer - A potent prognostic factor and possible target for endocrine therapy

A possible involvement of gender-dependent factors has been postulated in development of human non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), but its details remain unclear. In this study, we examined biological significance of progesterone receptor in NSCLCs. Progesterone receptor immunoreactivity was detected in 106 of 228 NSCLCs (46.5%). Progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC was frequently detected in female and adenocarcinoma, and was inversely associated with tumor-node-metastasis stage and histologic differentiation. Progesterone receptor status was also associated with better clinical outcome of the patients, and a multivariate analysis revealed progesterone receptor status as an independent prognostic factor. Progesterone-synthesizing enzymes were detected in NSCLCs, and tissue concentration of progesterone was higher in these cases (n = 42). Immunoblotting analyses showed the presence of progesterone receptor in three NSCLC cell lines (A549, LCSC#2, and 1-87), but not in RERF-LC-OK or PC3. Transcriptional activities of progesterone receptor were increased by progesterone in these three progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC cells by luciferase assays. Cell proliferation was inhibited by progesterone in these progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was inhibited by progesterone receptor blocker. Proliferation of these tumor cells injected into nude mice was also dose-dependently inhibited by progesterone, with a concomitant increase of p21 and p27 and a decrease of cyclin A, cyclin E, and Ki67. Results of our present study suggested that progesterone receptor was a potent prognostic factor in NSCLCs and progesterone inhibited growth of progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC cells. Therefore, progesterone therapy may be clinically effective in suppressing development of progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC patients.