Association between estrogen receptors and weight in women with breast cancer

A significant association between body weight and estrogen receptor protein (ERP) was noted in 83 women with primary and metastatic breast cancer. Thirteen of 34 (54%) women with weight >150 lb had low or absent receptor protein (<10 femtomoles/mg of cytoplasmic protein) compared to 15 of 59 (25%) women with weight <150 lb (P <0.025). The observed association was stronger in the group of 62 postmenopausal women (P <0.01). The findings suggest that the endocrine and metabolic milieu in women with increased weight favors autonomous growth of breast cancer, and adjuvant treatment in this group should be planned accordingly.