Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Association between oestrogens receptor expressions in breast cancer and comorbidities: a cross-sectional,
Laure de Decker1, Mario Campone2, Frederique Retornaz3
1Department of Therapeutic, EA 1156-12, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
Background:
Breast cancer with oestrogen receptor expression is common in older women. Several factors, such as age and reproductive hormone exposure, have been associated with oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer. However, the association between comorbidities and the oestrogen receptor expression has been poorly studied. We hypothesized that there was an association between burden comorbidity and breast cancer with oestrogen receptor expression in older women.
Objective:
To determine whether oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer was associated with burden comorbidity in community-dwelling women.
Methods:
A total of 1,707 women with breast cancer registered on the list of a breast cancer registry were included. The recorded data included: age, Charlson Comorbidity Index score≥1, breast cancer characteristics (coded according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology), and breast cancer pathological stage (the pathological-tumour-node-metastasis, Scarff Bloom Richardson, and hormonal status of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor).
Results:
Breast cancer with oestrogen receptor expression was identified in 1,378 patients (80·7%). The fully-adjusted logistic regression showed that oestrogen receptor expression was associated with Charlson Comorbidity Index score≥1 (odds ratio [OR] = 1·91,95%confidence interval [CI] = [1.01-3.61], P = 0·048), progesterone receptor expression (OR = 16·64, 95%CI = [11.62-23.81], P<0·001), human epidermal growth factor receptor (OR = 0·54, 95%CI = [0.34-0.84], P = 0·007), age (OR = 1.02, 95%CI = [1.00-1.03], P = 0.008), Scarff Bloom Richardson grade II and grade III (OR = 0·21with 95%CI = [0.10-0.44] and OR = 0·06 with 95%CI = [0.03-0.12], P<0·001).
Conclusion:
Our findings provide new data showing an independent positive association between burden comorbidity and breast cancer with oestrogen receptor expression. This result confirms that evaluation of oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer should not be limited to hormonal factors stratified by age.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
01:24Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
01:09Odds Ratio
01:22Target Cell Response to Hormones
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
01:30Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...