Comparison of estrogen and progesterone receptor status to lymphocyte immunity against tumor antigens in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) content of tumors were determined by both the dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) cytosol and immunocytochemical assays (ICA), and these hormone receptor results were compared to lymphocyte immunity against tumor antigen(s) for 52 breast carcinoma patients. Hormone receptor analysis by both methods demonstrated that 60% of the patients' tumors had ERs, while 44% were positive for PgRs. The ICA procedure was more sensitive than the cytosol technique for determining PgR content of the tumors. This increased sensitivity was not observed for ER by ICA. Patient age, tumor size, and nodal status were not related to the ER and PgR receptor status. A total of 21/52 (40%) of the patients had positive lymphocyte immunity against tumor antigen. This immunity was independent of patient age, tumor size, and nodal status. There was no significant relationship between lymphocytic immunity against tumor antigen and ER or PgR content of tumors, suggesting that patient lymphocyte immunity against tumor is independent of hormone receptor status. This is further evidence that lymphocyte immunity against tumor antigen status is an independent prognostic indicator that may be useful in the selection of a subset of node negative patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.