Steroid-hormone receptors and survival after first relapse in breast cancer.

Oestrogen receptors were measured in the primary breast tumours of 508 patients and progesterone receptors in those of 486 patients. Survival from mastectomy was significantly longer in patients with receptor-positive tumours. There was no significant difference between patients with receptor-positive and receptor-negative tumours in the relapse-free interval, but survival from first relapse was longer in patients with receptor-positive tumours. Axillary node status and tumour size indicated the probability of relapse but did not influence the length of survival after relapse. Response to tamoxifen or ovarian ablation was known in 65 of the 137 patients who relapsed. Survival from first relapse was significantly longer in patients who both responded to hormone therapy and had receptor-positive tumours. Patients who did not respond to hormone therapy and had receptor-positive tumours had the same survival characteristics as those with receptor-negative tumours who did not respond.