Hormone sensitivity in breast cancer: influence of heterogeneity of oestrogen receptor expression and cell proliferation
Nicholson, R.I.; Bouzubar, N.; Walker, K.J.; McClelland, R.; Dixon, A.R.; Robertson, J.F.; Ellis, I.O.; Blamey, R.W.
European Journal of Cancer 27(7): 908-913
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0959-8049 PMID: 1834127 Document Number: 379715
The percentage of oestrogen receptor (ER) positive cells in a series of 118 breast cancers has been examined by immunohistochemistry in relation to patients' response to endocrine therapy. Positive and negative predictive values in women with receptor positive tumours, especially where the tumours contained more than 70% positive cells. Tumours that were apparently negative for ER expressed rarely responded to endocrine therapy. The hormone sensitivity of ER positive breast cancer was also influenced by the rate of tumour cell porliferation with tumours expressing high levels of Ki67 immunostaining rarely responding to therapy.