[Hormone receptors (ER, PgR) as a prognostic factor in breast cancer]

To investigate the significance of the hormonal receptors (ER: estrogen receptors; PgR: Progesterone receptors) as prognostic factors in breast cancer, 213 patients with breast cancer (stages I-III) who were examined for both receptors and had not received adjuvant hormonal therapy have been studied so as to determine a disease-free survival rate. In stage I, the status of the hormonal receptors failed to show any statistically significant differences with regard to the disease-free curve. However, in patients in advanced stage, the presence of either PgR or both receptors positively correlated with the disease-free survival curve. In comparing the ER with the PgR as prognostic factors, the presence of the PgR seemed to be more important than the presence of the ER. These data suggest that the status of the hormonal receptors is considered to have prognostic significance.