Estrogen receptor protein and its correlation to recurrent breast cancer. A study of 213 patients at the Pennsylvania Hospital.

The value of having estrogen receptor protein analysis is more widely appreciated, and the estrogen receptor determination at the time of biopsy or mastectomy is rapidly becoming a standard procedure. The patients with positive estrogen receptors (and progesterone receptors) are now identified as those who will respond to hormone ablation or manipulation. Some authors have stated that a positive estrogen receptor has a "protective" value against regional metastasis and early recurrence. At the time of biopsy, a portion of the tumor is frozen in liquid nitrogen and sent for estrogen receptor (and progesterone receptor) analysis. The 200 breast cancer patients had estrogen receptors performed with 118 estrogen receptors positive and 82 estrogen receptors negative. The following is an analysis of the 130 mastectomy patients. Negative nodes: ER+, 50; ER-, 20. One to three positive nodes: ER+, 23; ER-, 12. Four and more positive nodes: ER+, 15; ER-, 10. At the present time, the data is being correlated to the patient's age, the time of recurrence, and its relationship to estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors.