Relationship between estrogen receptor concentration and cytomorphometry in breast cancer

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between estrogen receptor (ER) concentration and cytomorphometric parameters in breast carcinoma. Primary breast cancer specimens were both imprinted on cytologic slides and submitted to ER determination with a dextran-coated charcoal method. Patients were stratified by ER levels ranging from 0 to greater than or equal to 200 fmol/mg protein. Measurements were performed on cytologic imprint technique smears in five cases from each ER strata, using a computer-assisted tracing device. Nuclear, cytoplasmic, and cellular parameters were measured on 50 cells per case. The cytometric findings were correlated with ER concentrations. A statistically significant correlation between decreasing area (P = 0.011), perimeter (P = 0.015), maximum diameter (P = 0.034), minimum diameter (P = 0.008), and volume (P = 0.01) of nuclei and increasing ER levels was found. With regard to whole cells, the following parameters significantly decreased versus increasing ER levels: area (P = 0.038), perimeter (P = 0.046), minimum diameter (P = 0.011), and volume (P = 0.044). A statistically significant relationship between the decreasing cytoplasmic perimeter (P = 0.025), i.e., nuclear plus cellular perimeter, and increasing ER content was found. Cytoplasmic area and nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) did not correlate with the amount of ER. In all classes of different ER concentration, cells and nuclei displayed a regular shape closer to a circle than to an ellipse. The results of the current investigation indicate that tumors with higher ER concentration are composed of smaller cells with smaller nuclei than are tumors with lower ER content.