[Estradiol and progesterone receptors in loco-regional breast cancer. Clinical and prognostic correlations].

Estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor assay was performed in breast cancer specimens from 133 women, 31 to 83 years of age. Mean ER levels increase significantly from one ten year age group to the next, ranging from 59.9 + 46.2 femtomoles/mg cytosolic protein in the 30-40 year group to 627 + 479 fmol/mg protein in the 89-90 year group. Mean ER values were found to be 50 + 20.4 fmol/mg protein in premenopausal patients and 176.8 + 55 after menopause. PR concentrations were similar in pre and post-menopausal patients (62.2 + 25.8 and 73.8 + 33.8 fmol/mg protein respectively. Receptor level was not correlated with T.N.M. clinical staging or lymph node involvement. Analysis of ER and PR levels according to histologic (Scarff and Bloom) grading showed a positive correlation between receptor concentration and cellular differentiation. Disease-free survival rate two years after initial therapy was significantly higher in ER positive cases (p = 0.01), although 79% of ER negative patients received adjuvant systemic therapy. In PR positive cases, this difference nearly disappears (p = 0.09), even though 70% of PR negative patients were submitted to adjuvant systemic therapy. Chemotherapy is therefore justified in RE negative patients who carry a poor prognosis.