Does hormone therapy, tibolone or raloxifene modify VEGF expression in cervical epithelial cells?

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Does hormone therapy, tibolone or raloxifene modify VEGF expression in cervical epithelial cells?

Climacteric. 2012 Apr;15(2):181-5

Authors: Sioulas VD, Politi E, Rizos D, Augoulea A, Kyroudi A, Sergentanis TN, Panoulis C, Aravantinos L, Creatsa M, Lambrinoudaki I

Abstract
AIM: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to be a critical molecule in cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed to investigate the possible associations between hormonal factors and VEGF expression in cervical epithelial cells from postmenopausal women.
METHOD: A total of 105 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 45-68 years old) attending a university menopause clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Pap smears were derived from current users of 17?-estradiol 1 mg + norethisterone acetate 0.5 mg (n = 28), tibolone 2.5 mg (n = 23), raloxifene HCl 60 mg (n = 21) and women not receiving treatment (n = 33). VEGF immunostaining was evaluated in squamous, glandular and metaplastic cells, using a semiquantitative method (rating scale: 0-3).
RESULTS: Concerning endogenous hormones, higher ?4-androstenedione levels were associated with more intense VEGF immunostaining in glandular (p = 0.041) and metaplastic cells (p = 0.004). Hormone therapy and raloxifene did not induce any changes in VEGF immunoreactivity in the examined cells. In contrast, tibolone administration was accompanied by diminished VEGF presence in metaplastic cells (p = 0.016 vs. controls).
CONCLUSION: Our findings may in part reflect the molecular processes contributing to the safe profile of hormone therapy, tibolone and raloxifene in cervical carcinogenesis.

PMID: 22066937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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