Variability of oestrogen and progesterone receptor status between primary breast cancer and nodal metastases: preliminary communication.

The synchronous relationship between oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor status in primary tumours and their nodal metastases has been analysed in 26 patients. All patients with ER-negative primary tumours were found to have ER-negative axillary nodes but of those with ER-positive tumours only 65% had, correspondingly, all nodes ER-positive. The concentration of ER in the nodes was found to be significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than that in the primary tumour. PgR information was unobtainable in 3 patients. Of the remainder, 75% of those having PgR-negative tumours had all nodes PgR-negative but only 36% of those with PgR-positive tumours had all nodes PgR-positive. PgR levels were found to be generally lower in the axillary nodes but this did not reach statistical significance. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.