Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

Estrogen receptor beta--an independent prognostic marker in estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer?

Full Abstract

Both subtypes of estrogen receptor (ER), ERalpha and ERbeta, are normally present in the mammary gland. The role of ERalpha as a prognostic marker in breast cancer is well established due to the beneficial effect of providing tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy. The role of ERbeta, however, is less clear. To gain insight into the importance of ERbeta in breast cancer, 145 primary breast cancers were examined by immunohistochemistry for ERbeta, and the expression level was compared with ERalpha and progesterone receptor (PR) status. Especially, we wanted to examine the significance of ERbeta in the contrasting ERalpha+/PR+ and ERalpha-/PR- subgroups. In the ERalpha+/PR+ subgroup (dual positive), the survival difference between patients with low, medium and high ER beta level was statistically significant (p = 0.004), with more than 70% of patients with medium and high ERbeta levels surviving 100 months, compared with less than 30% in the group with low ERbeta level. Further, for ERalpha+/PR+ patients there was a reduced risk of fatal outcome by multivariate analysis with increasing ERbeta levels (p(trend) < 0.01 [univariate analysis]; p(trend) = 0.05 [multivariate analysis]). The risk was 31% and 27% for medium and high ERbeta levels, respectively, compared with low ERbeta level, adjusting for standard prognostic factors such as tumor diameter, nuclear tumor grade (quantified by mean nuclear area), lymph node status, and patient age at operation. For patients with ERalpha-/PR- tumors (dual negative), however, there was no association between ERbeta levels and patient outcome. Our findings indicate that ERbeta expression provides independent prognostic information for breast cancers with ERalpha/PR-positive status, a feature typical among screen-detected breast cancers. The role of ERbeta needs to be further evaluated especially in this group of breast cancers.

Author information

Author/s: Maehle, Bjørn O (BO); Collett, Karin (K); Tretli, Steinar (S); Akslen, Lars A (LA); Grotmol, Tom (T);

Affiliation: Section for Pathology, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. bjorn.mahle(-atsign-)gades.uib.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica (APMIS), published in Denmark. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 117 (issue 9) : pp 644-50

Dates: Created 2009/08/25; Completed 2009/09/10;

PMID: 19703124, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/10/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; metabolism; mortality; pathology Estrogen Receptor Modulators - therapeutic use Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism Estrogen Receptor beta - metabolism Female Humans

Immunohistochemistry Kaplan-Meiers Estimate Middle Aged Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - drug therapy; metabolism; mortality; pathology Prognosis Receptors, Progesterone - metabolism Risk Factors Tamoxifen - therapeutic use Tumor Markers, Biological - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Estrogen Receptor Modulators (0) ; Estrogen Receptor alpha (0) ; Estrogen Receptor beta (0) ; Receptors, Progesterone (0) ; Tumor Markers, Biological (0) ; Tamoxifen (10540-29-1)

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