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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

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Open Access 01-07-2019 | Breast Cancer | Review

Higher ER load is not associated with better outcome in stage 1–3 breast cancer: a descriptive overview of quantitative HR analysis in operable breast cancer

Authors: I. Noordhoek, A. F. de Groot, D. Cohen, G. J. Liefers, J. E. A. Portielje, J. R. Kroep

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Purpose

In breast cancer, hormone receptor (HR) status is generally a qualitative measure; positive or negative. Quantitatively measured oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) are frequently proposed prognostic and predictive markers, some guidelines even provide different treatment options for patients with strong versus weak expression.

Aim

To evaluate quantitative HR load assessed by immunohistochemistry as a prognostic and predictive measure in stage 1–3 breast cancer.

Methods

We reviewed all the available literature on quantitatively measured HRs using immunohistochemistry.

Results

All included studies (n = 19) comprised a cohort of 30,754 patients. Only 2 out of 17 studies found a clear correlation between higher quantitative ER and better disease outcome. Only one trial examined quantitative ER both as prognostic and predictive marker and found no association between ER% and survival. Ten studies examined quantitative PR load, only two of those found a significant correlation between higher PR load and better disease outcome. Two trials examined quantitative PR both as prognostic and predictive marker, neither found any association between PR% and disease outcome.

Conclusions

There is no clear evidence for using quantitatively assessed ER and PR as prognostic nor predictive marker in patients with stage 1–3 breast cancer. We recommend only using a qualitative HR status in future guidelines and treatment considerations.

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Title: Higher ER load is not associated with better outcome in stage 1–3 breast cancer: a descriptive overview of quantitative HR analysis in operable breast cancer
Authors: I. Noordhoek
A. F. de Groot
D. Cohen
G. J. Liefers
J. E. A. Portielje
J. R. Kroep
Publication date: 01-07-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Estrogens
Progesterone
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-019-05233-9

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