[Estrogen receptors in primary breast neoplasms]

Estrogen receptors were studied in 108 stage I and II breast cancer patients aged 28-83. The receptors were identified in 72.6% of cases, 55.5% of tumors being estrogen receptor-positive. Estrogen receptor level and frequency in tumor were found to depend upon patient's age and menstrual function. Mean estrogen receptor levels in patients with adrenal and involutive forms of cancer, which are the most sensitive to hormone therapy were 2-3 times those in ovarian and thyroid forms, the latter being the least sensitive to hormone treatment (ovariectomy + corticosteroids). Scirrhous tumors of the breast in elderly patients were mostly estrogen receptor-positive, this pointing to favorable prognosis in this age bracket.