Prognostic value of estrogen receptors determined by radiochemical vs. histochemical methods in breast cancer

Progesterone receptor expression is a marker for early stage breast cancer: implications for progesterone receptor as a therapeutic tool and target

We determined the association of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in invasive breast cancer with stage at diagnosis. Univariate analyses indicated that although ER and PR expression were inversely associated with grade (P<0.0001), only PR expression (P<0.01) was inversely associated with stage. Multivariate analyses, adjusted for covariates, including HER-2/neu expression, indicated that PR (odds ratio (OR), 0.88; confidence interval (CI), 0.77-0.99; P=0.03) and not ER expression (OR, 1.04; CI, 0.94-1.16; P=0.45) was inversely associated with stage. PR and not ER expression is a marker for early stage breast cancer.

Prognostic factors. Stage and receptor status in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Anatomic and biologic indicators of prognosis provide the bases for management of patients with cancer of the breast. Combinations of these indicators are potentially more accurate than any alone. This review was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic relationship between stage and steroid hormone receptors.

METHODS

The literature was reviewed relative to the influences of tumor size, axillary metastases, and tumor estrogen receptors on the survival of patients with cancer of the breast.

RESULTS

Axillary node status is of primary importance as a predictor of recurrence and survival. Tumor size has only a secondary influence, but is prognostically useful in the absence of metastases. Estrogen and progesterone receptors provide prognostic information that is independent of axillary stage, but the influence is weak, often transient, and attributable at least partly to a close association with other biologic indicators of favorable prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Hormone receptors add to the prognostic information provided by anatomic stage, but the contribution is insufficient to support a decision for or against systemic adjuvant therapy.