[Clinical and pathological characteristics of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer]

Estrogen receptor (ER) was measured in 275 samples from 170 patients with breast cancer by dextran-coated charcoal assay. The results showed that the ER positive rate was 51.2%. The ER status of female patients was not related to age or menopause. The positive rate was lowest in AB blood type. The distribution of positive patients in all types was similar to that reported by Japanese authors. The DNA levels of ER positive cancers were relatively lower than those of negative ones. Pathological examination of cancer tissue indicated that ER positive cancer is well differentiated. The 3 year disease-free rate and 4 year survival rate are both high in ER positive patients than that in the negative patients. Knowledge of ER status is helpful in planning the treatment of breast cancer.