| Abstract: | ![]()
Focus is on the current concepts of hormone receptors in breast cancer and their significance to the practicing physician. Hormone receptor assays have proven to be valuable to physicians treating patients with breast cancer. About 2/3 of patients with estrogen receptor (ER+) tumors experience palliation of their symptoms after some type of hormonal manipulation. At this time it is believed that estrogen exerts the most powerful effect on the cancer. There are several methods of testing for estrogen receptors. The 1st method involves injection of tritiated hexesterol prior to surgery and subsequent checking for radioactive estrogens in the mammary tissue. More recently, methods are used in which the receptors can be quantified. 1 method uses a sucrose density gradient. Another and less expensive method is the Dextran-coated charcoal test (DCC). Estrogen receptors have been found in 73% of primary and 58% of metastatic breast cancers using the DCC test. The treatment of choice is always dependent on the patient involved. If the lesion is ER+, some type of hormone manipulation may be considered, which type depending on the menopausal status of the women. |
