| Abstract: | Since endocrine therapy has gained great importance in curative and palliative radiotherapy, the hormone-therapy of breast cancer owing to the relevance of the receptor contents in the tumour, has had to be reconsidered over the past decade. Accordingly, this paper deals with endocrine pathophysiology both in relation to the central and cellular mechanisms of hormone action; in addition it presents recent findings on biosynthesis of the different hormones. Furthermore, important treatment criteria with regard to patient selection will be listed. The discussion of these criteria is based both on clinical findings ("empirical criteria") and on the receptor status ("objective criteria") with a view to a better assessment of risk and prognosis at the time of surgery. |
