Hormonal receptor determination of 1,052 Chinese breast cancers

Background and Objectives: Hormonal receptors are important prognostic factors for breast cancer. The reported figures in the literature are mostly on Caucasians. This study analyzes the receptor profile of 1,052 Chinese patients. Methods: The age of the patients ranged from 20-93 years; 48% were premenopausal and 52% postmenopausal. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) were measured quantitatively by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using the rat monoclonal antibody (ABBOTT ER-EIA). Specimens with values >15 fmol/mg were considered positive according to manufacturer's recommendation. Results: ER was positive in 53% and 61.6% of the pre- and postmenopausal women respectively (P < 0.0075); PgR was positive in 51.5% and 46.2% respectively (P > 0.05). The mean values of ER were higher for postmenopausal women (P < 0.0001) but the values for PgR were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). When the values were analyzed with respect to age, there was an increasing trend for ER. No such trend was noted for PgR. Subgroup analysis showed that there were more ER+PgR+ tumors among postmenopausal than among premenopausal women. Tumors with dubious receptor status (ER+PgR- or ER-PgR+) were more prevalent at perimenopausal age. Conclusions: Chinese patients have lower receptor values and positivity rates than those reported for Caucasians. Receptor-positive tumors tend to occur in postmenopausal women. J. Surg. Oncol. 2000:75:172-175. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.