Study of Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor Expression in Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ by Immunohistochemical Staining in ERPgR-Negative Invasive Breast Cancer

Abstract EN

Background.

To our knowledge, the hormone receptor status of noncontiguous ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) occurring concurrently in ER/PgR-negative invasive cancer has not been studied.

The current study was undertaken to investigate the ER/PgR receptor status of DCIS of the breast in patients with ER/PgR-negative invasive breast cancer.

Methods.

We reviewed the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for ER and PgR of 187 consecutive cases of ER/PgR-negative invasive breast cancers, collected from 1995 to 2002.

To meet the criteria for the study, we evaluated ER/PgR expression of DCIS cancer outside of the invasive breast cancer.

Results.

A total of 37 cases of DCIS meeting the above criteria were identified.

Of these, 16 cases (43.2%) showed positive staining for ER, PgR, or both.

Conclusions.

In our study of ER/PgR-negative invasive breast cancer we found that in 8% of cases noncontiguous ER/PR-positive DCIS was present.

In light of this finding, it may be important for pathologists to evaluate the ER/PgR status of DCIS occurring in the presence of ER/PgR-negative invasive cancer, as this subgroup could be considered for chemoprevention.