Estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer tissue is chemosensitive in vitro compared with estrogen-receptor-positive tissue.

The chemosensitivities of 18 estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) tissues were compared with that of 38 estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) tissues, using the in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test. These human breast tissue were exposed to six antitumor drugs: carboquone, adriamycin, mitomycin C, aclacinomycin A, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity was noted in ER- compared to ER+ tissues, exposed to six antitumor drugs, in particular to adriamycin (p less than 0.001) and aclacinomycin A (p less than 0.05). The sensitive rates were higher in ER- than in ER+ tissues, against all six antitumor drugs. The resistance rates to all drugs tested were 25% in ER- and 45% in ER+ tissues. A higher chemosensitivity is associated with the absence of ER. It appeared that the ER status in case of breast cancer is an important predictor of the response to chemotherapy.