[Effects of hormone replacement therapy for menopause on prognostic factors of breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used by post-menopausal women. Although this treatment may slightly increase the incidence of breast cancer, more and more cases are diagnosed while women are taking HRT. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the influence of HRT on prognostic factors and outcome of breast cancer. Data on all breast cancer patients, including precise information on HRT, was prospectively and systematically recorded in a data base.


METHODS
From 1990 to 1998, 1223 post-menopausal women fulfilled the eligibility criteria for this study. The clinical features, laboratory findings and survival rates in 245 HRT users who developed breast cancer while being treated were compared with those of 245 matched breast cancer patients who had never received HRT.


RESULTS
Patients who developed breast cancer during HRT had fewer locally advanced cancers and smaller and better-differentiated cancers. Estradiol receptivity was quantitatively lower in users. Metastasis-free survival were better for the users.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that HRT does not affect the prognosis of breast cancer. Regular surveillance during HRT allows early detection of smaller lesions. The higher number of well-differentiated cancers and the distribution of hormone receptivity may reflect interaction between neoplastic tissue and exogenous hormones.
Service de gynécologie obstétrique A, hôpital de la Conception, 147, boulevard Braille, 13385 Marseille, France.
P
P
Bonnier
R
R
Sakr
F
F
Bessenay
C
C
Lejeune
C
C
Charpin
P M
PM
Martin
L
L
Piana
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
D011959:Receptors, Estradiol