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. 1981 Jan;43(1):59–66. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1981.8

Oestrogen-receptor status and endocrine therapy of breast cancer: response rates and status stability.

R E Leake, L Laing, K C Calman, F R Macbeth, D Crawford, D C Smith
PMCID: PMC2010491  PMID: 7459239

Abstract

The concentration of cellular oestrogen receptor (RE) was measured in both the soluble and nuclear-pellet fractions of biopsies from 1,000 breast cancers. Data suggest that functional steroid RE is always in equilibrium between the soluble and nuclear fractions. However, biopsies from only one-third of patients contained detectable amounts of high-affinity RE in both fractions. Thirty patients out of 42 (71%) whose biopsies contained RE in both fractions, showed objective remission after receiving some form of hormonal manipulation as sole treatment. Response rates in the other categories ranged from 9% for those whose biopsies contained no detectable RE to 24% for those who displayed soluble RE alone. The presence of RE in both fractions of primary disease, whereas RE-negativity was maintained during progression from primary to secondary disease. Other aspects of RE status in relation to stage of disease are analysed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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