Abstract
Forty-three patients with large (greater than or equal to 4 cm) but operable carcinoma of the breast have been treated by endocrine manipulation before definitive local surgery. This has allowed the study of the relationship between response to therapy and pretreatment oestrogen receptor (ER) concentration, as measured by a dextran-coated charcoal adsorption method. Premenopausal patients (17) were treated by surgical (4) or medical (13) oophorectomy. Post-menopausal patients (26) received either tamoxifen (10) or an aromatase inhibitor (16). Response was assessed from statistical analysis of the changes in tumour size. On completion of 12 weeks of endocrine therapy, there was significant regression of tumour size in 18 of the 43 patients. All 18 patients had tumours with ER concentrations of greater than or equal to 20 fmol mg-1 cytosol protein. Conversely all patients except one progressing on treatment had tumours with ER concentrations of less than 20 fmol mg-1 cytosol protein. This relationship applied for both premenopausal and post-menopausal patients. The overall response rate of patients with tumours of ER concentration greater than or equal to 20 fmol mg-1 cytosol protein was 60%.
Highlights
The likelihood of response to endocrine treatment in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma is related to the concentration of oestrogen receptor (ER) protein within that tumour (McGuire et al, 1975; Brooks et al, 1980; Jensen, 1975; Dao & Nemoto, 1980; Oriana et al, 1987)
This paper describes the relationship between the ER concentration of large primary operable breast cancer and their response to endocrine treatment
All patients who responded to treatment had tumours with an ER concentration of greater than 20 fmol mg-1 cytosol protein
Summary
The likelihood of response to endocrine treatment in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma is related to the concentration of oestrogen receptor (ER) protein within that tumour (McGuire et al, 1975; Brooks et al, 1980; Jensen, 1975; Dao & Nemoto, 1980; Oriana et al, 1987). The value of ER status in predicting benefit from adjuvant endocrine treatment remains controversial. While several studies have demonstrated that only patients with ER-positive tumours have a significant survival advantage (Rose et al, 1985; Fisher et al, 1986; Rutquist et al, 1987; Meakin, 1986; Marshall et al, 1987; Bianco et al, 1988), the Nato trial (Nolvadex Adjuvant Trial Organisation, 1988) has indicated that the benefit is independent of ER status. The relationship between ER concentration and response of primary operable breast cancer to endocrine treatment remains uncertain
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
