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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells
Published on: February 21, 2014
Estrogen receptor status low status in breast cancer: clinicopathological factors and prognostic value
Joanna Huszno1, Zofia Kołosza2, Ewa Stobiecka3
1Radiotherapy Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland.
Introduction:
We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of estrogen receptor status (ER)-low status in breast cancer (BC). Additionally, we compared the ER-low subgroup with ER-negative and ER-high BC according to clinical, histopathological and molecular factors.
Material And Methods:
The analysis included medical records of BC patients treated at the National Institute of Oncology in Gliwice, Poland, between 2002 and 2018.
Results:
Of the 657 tumours, 14% were classified as ER-low, 52% as ER-high and 34% as ER-negative. Patients with ER-low tumours were more likely to present with T3-T4 disease compared with those with ER-high (19% vs. 12%, p = 0.089) and less frequently than ER-negative (19% vs. 29%, p = 0.092). Patients with ER-low tumours were less likely to be progesterone receptor status (PgR) negative (19% vs. 92%, p < 0.001) and G3 (22% vs. 49%, p < 0.001) compared with ER-negative. BRCA P/LP (pathogenic/likely pathogenic) variants were less frequent in ER-low than in ER-negative tumours (5% vs. 20%, p = 0.001). Overall survival (OS) was similar in both ER-high and ER-low groups (p = 0.333; 5-year OS: 93% vs. 92%, 7-year OS: 86% vs. 83%). Overall survival was non-significantly better for those with ER-low compared with ER-negative (p = 0.107).
Conclusions:
Estrogen receptor-low status appears to be associated with a higher T stage and PgR negativity compared with ER-high tumours, and with a lower grade and fewer BRCA P/LP variants compared with ER-negative tumours. A trend toward improved OS was observed in ER-low compared with ER-negative patients.
