ERICA predicts response to tamoxifen in elderly women with breast cancer.
Oestrogen receptor status has been determined by an immunocytochemical assay using fine-needle aspiration samples of primary breast cancers in elderly patients. In a prospective study 56 patients were treated with tamoxifen only. Satisfactory assays were achieved in 49 patients. Disease was controlled by tamoxifen in 32 of 35 (91%) patients with oestrogen receptor positive tumours, compared with only 1 (7%) of 14 who were receptor negative. Immunocytochemical assay on fine-needle aspiration samples is relatively non-invasive and simple to perform, it accurately predicts response to tamoxifen in elderly patients and can be used to select patients for tamoxifen only therapy.
Davies
N
N
University Surgical Unit, Southampton General Hospital.
Moir
G
G
Carpenter
R
R
Cuthbert
A
A
Herbert
A
A
Royle
G T
GT
Taylor
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen