Estrogen and progesterone receptors status in the prediction of response of breast cancer to endocrine therapy (preliminary report)

Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 1986;7(3):151-8.

Abstract

The authors selected 263 ER cases and 224 ER/PgR cases for receptor status analysis from 1548 breast cancer tissues assayed. 30 Operating-theatres address their breast frozen specimens at our laboratory and thanks to this wide cooperation, we can perform the statistical analysis and relationship with very good reliability. In our experience we observed that the response to hormonal therapy is present in 50% of the cases containing ER concentrations up to 100 fmol/mg of proteins, and in 74% of the cases with ER concentrations more of 100 fmol/mg of proteins. Considering the presence of both receptors (ER+/PgR+) we observed the response rate to hormonal treatment in 76% of the cases while in 9% of the cases the status is ER/PgR negative. The cases classified ER negative and PgR positive demonstrated a response rate of 28%, 7 out of 26 cases ER+/PgR- responded to hormonal therapy. In this last situation, in addition to experienced hypotheses, the authors believe it is important to examine sonographically the ovaries, because the presence of a functional ovarian cyst could influence the saturation of receptorial sites.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Menopause
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / analysis*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Hormones
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone