Abstract
In 1896, Beatson described clinical improvement after ovariectomy in young women with breast cancers. 1 Beatson GT On the treatment of inoperable cases of carcinoma of the mamma: suggestions for a new method of treatment, with illustrative cases. Lancet. 1896; 2: 104-107 Crossref Google Scholar These findings established widespread use of endocrine treatment for this disease, which persists to this day. In the 1960s, the discovery of the oestrogen receptor by Jensen 2 Jensen EV Jacobson HI Smith S et al. The use of estrogen antagonists in hormone receptor studies. Gynecol Invest. 1972; 3: 108-123 Crossref PubMed Scopus (52) Google Scholar led to investigations by McGuire and colleagues 3 McGuire WL Estrogen receptors in human breast cancer. J Clin Invest. 1973; 52: 73-77 Crossref PubMed Scopus (180) Google Scholar that showed that this molecule could be used to guide endocrine treatment of breast cancer. It is now clear that patients with oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer gain substantial benefit from the selective oestrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen, but patients whose cancers are oestrogen-receptor negative do not. 4 Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG)Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet. 2005; 365: 1687-1717 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (6339) Google Scholar Consequently, standard recommendations now call for the use of oestrogen receptors to identify patients who should not receive endocrine treatment. 5 Bast Jr, RC Ravdin P Hayes DF et al. 2000 update of recommendations for the use of tumor markers in breast and colorectal cancer: clinical practice guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol. 2001; 19: 1865-1878 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar Determination of oestrogen-receptor status and ERBB2 status of breast carcinoma: a gene-expression profiling studyAmounts of ESR1 and ERBB2 mRNA as measured by the Affymetrix GeneChip reliably and reproducibly establish oestrogen-receptor status and ERBB2 status, respectively. Full-Text PDF
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
