Predictability of Response to Endocrine Ablation in Advanced Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Different tissues from 80 patients with breast diseases were analyzed for estradiol receptor (ER) and steroid sulfurylation (SS). Eighteen of 26 with primary carcinoma and 16 of 32 with metastases had ER in their tumors. Most benign tumors and normal tissues from breast, skin, ovary, and adrenal did not possess ER. Steroid sulfurylation values compared reasonably well with ER values in primary carcinoma and benign tumors, but not in metastases to adrenal, ovary, or liver. In 22 patients with incurable carcinoma, clinical response to endocrine ablation was correlated with these biochemical determinants. Objective remission was found in 12 patients with positive ER and in two in whom ER was not measured. Eight patients with negative ER failed to respond. No correlation of SS values to clinical response in these patients could be demonstrated.