E. Skasko et al., EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR AND ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN BREAST CANCERS OF PREMENOPAUSAL AND POSTMENOPAUSAL PATIENTS, Tumori, 80(1), 1994, pp. 56-60
Aims and backround: The purpose of our research was to investigate the
relations between the levels of epidermal growth factor receptor and
estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancers of premenopausal
and postmenopausal Polish women. Methods: Cell membrane levels of epi
dermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), and cytosol (c) estrogen (ER) a
nd progesterone (PR) receptors were determined in 221 specimens of pri
mary breast cancers. ERc and PRc were assayed using the dextran-coated
charcoal procedure, and EGF-R were assayed by the radioligand method
of specific saturation of the crude membrane fraction with I-125-EGF R
esults: A statistically significant inverse correlation was found in a
ll tumors between the concentrations of EGF-R and ERc, whereas for PRc
significance of this correlation was not fully confirmed. ERc concent
rations in tumors were positively correlated with age of patients, whe
reas EGF-R and PRc were not. In all, in premenopausal, and in postmeno
pausal EGF-R-positive tumors (less-than-or-equal-to 10 fmol/mg of memb
rane protein), mean concentrations of ERc did not differ significantly
. These groups of tumors seem to be homogeneous with respect to ERc co
ncentrations. In EGF-R-negative (< 10 fmol/mg of membrane protein) pos
tmenopausal tumors, the mean ERc concentration was significantly highe
r than in premenopausal tumors, hence these groups of tumors appear to
be heterogeneous with regard to ERc contens: Conclusions: The present
findings may have significance in differentiation of postmenopausal b
reast cancer.