Prognostic value of estrogen and prolactin receptor analysis in human breast cancer

Hormone receptors for estrogen (ER), progesterone (PGR) and prolactin (PRL-R) were measured in primary breast cancer tissues obtained from 214 patients at radical mastectomy. The patients were followed up at intervals of one to three months to examine the relationship between hormone receptor status and prognosis. ER status was related to PGR status but not to PRL-R status. PRL-R was more frequently detectable in pathologic stage 3 than in stage 1 & 2 (22% vs. 10%, P less than 0.05) whereas ER and PGR were not different between stage 1 & 2 and stage 3 groups. The influence of receptor status on prognosis was analyzed in 164 patients of stage 1 & 2 by means of the actuarial life table technique. The recurrence-free interval was not related to ER, PGR or PRL-R status. The ER-positive group was associated with significantly prolonged survival compared with that of ER-negative patients at 42 to 51 months after surgery. PRL-R positive patients had a significantly worse survival than the PRL-R negative group (P less than 0.05). These findings indicate that receptor status may provide useful prognostic information in patients with early breast cancer and that the lactogenic hormone may play an unfavorable role in relation to the prognosis of human breast cancer.