[Prognostic value of hormone receptor in breast cancer]

The relationship of hormone receptor and postoperative prognosis was investigated in 166 patients with breast cancer who underwent curative operation and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The endocrine therapy was performed only for the patients with recurrent disease. The content of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) were measured by binding assay using gel-filtration method. ER-positive cases accounted for 56% of 166 patients and PgR-positive ones for 36% of 124. The relapse free interval was not different between the ER-positive group and ER-negative one, but the survival curve after relapse was significantly different between the both groups. There was no significant difference in the relapse free interval and the survival curve after relapse between PgR-positive group and PgR-negative one. These results suggest that the ER is a good predictor as to the response to endocrine therapy given for recurrent disease, but not as to early recurrence.