Hormone receptor status of breast cancer in India: a study of 798 tumours

The objectives of this study were to document the oestrogen and progesteron e receptor (ER & PR) status of breast cancer in the Indian population las d one by immunohistochemistry on paraffin blocks), and correlate the steroid receptor status of breast cancer with all relevant patient and tumour chara cteristics. Our current data have been compared with previously published d ata from other centres. In contrast to the higher rates reported in the Wes tern literature, only 32.6% of our tumours were ER positive and 46.1% were PR positive. Tumours were separated into four categories: ER+PR+ (25%), ERPR- (7.4%), ER-PR+ (21.1%) and ER-PR- (46.5%). ER and PR immunoreactivity i ncreased with advancing age, and correlated with the presence of elastosis. Infiltrating lobular carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and mixed tumours were more frequently ER & PR positive. High-grade infiltrating duct carcinomas, pure comedo ductal carcinoma in situ, and medullary carcinoma were predomi nantly ER & PR negative. The presence of necrosis and lymphovascular invasi on showed an inverse relationship with ER and PR reactivity. (C) 2000 Harco urt Publishers Ltd.