Immunoreactive estrogen receptor in breast tumor and adjacent tissue: association with clinicopathological characteristics in Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
Estrogen receptor (ER) status serves as an important prognostic marker in the management of breast cancer. The level of ER in breast tumor is different in different racial and ethnic groups. In the present study, we have compared the ER levels in breast tumor and adjacent normal tissue in Indian sub-population.


METHODS
Immunoreactive ER was measured by enzyme immunoassay in breast tumors (ERt) and adjacent area (ERa) derived from 45 breast cancer patients from North India. Clinical parameters like age, menopausal status, tumor stage, recurrence and treatment status were recorded.


RESULTS
A significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of ERt and ERa (r = 0.386, P = 0.009). While the ERt levels increased with advancing age (P = 0.087), the ERa levels did not change in different age groups. The ERt levels negatively correlated with tumor stage and recurrence (r = -0.263, P = 0.110 and r = -0.202, P = 0.189). A significant negative correlation was also observed between the ERa levels and tumor recurrence (r = -0.337, P = 0.025). Further, the ERt positivity was higher than the ERa positivity. The clinical characteristics like age, tumor stage, metastasis, recurrence, and treatment status did not correlate with ERt and ERa positivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows that the levels of ERt and ERa positively correlate and both ERt and ERa show negative correlation with tumor recurrence.
Kumar
Vijay L
VL
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. kumarvl98@hotmail.com <kumarvl98@hotmail.com>
Srivastava
Anurag
A
Singhal
Rohit
R
Kumar
Vijay
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007194:India; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen