title: Prognostic significance of interactions between ER alpha and ER beta and lymph node status in breast cancer cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both estrogen receptors, ER alpha (ERα) and ER beta (ERβ), are expressed in 50-70% of breast cancer cases. The role of ERα as a prognostic marker in breast cancer has been well established as its expression is negative correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis. ERβ is also a favorable prognostic predictor although this is less well documented than for ERα.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore whether ERs independently or together might influence clinical outcome in breast cancer, the correlation between the ERs with the clinicopathological features was analyzed in 84 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERα expression negatively correlated with tumor stage (r=-0.246, p=0.028) and tended to be negatively correlated with lymph node status (r=-0.156, p=0.168) and tumor size (r=-0.246, p=0.099). Also, ERβ was negatively correlated with nodal status (r=-0.243, p=0.028), as was coexpression of ERα and ERβ (p=0.043, OR=0.194, 95% CI= 0.040- 0.953).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coexpression of ERs might serve as an indicator of good prognosis in breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China E-mail : yanhe118@sina.com, lingrui0105@163.com.
authors.forename: Shu-Jing
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qing-Qing
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: You-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: You-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yu-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta