Hormone receptor levels related to histological parameters of tumor-host relationships in female breast carcinoma

Abstract

A series of 115 female breast carcinomas was studied with special emphasis on the relationships between the hormone receptor (ER and PR) levels and the histological parameters reflecting tumor-host reactivity. Carcinomas were classified according to their nuclear grade (NG) and the stromal host reactions; perivenous lymphocyte infiltration (PVI), lymphocyte (LI), plasma cell (PCI), and mast cell infiltration (MI) were assessed. NG did correlate directly with the ER positivity, but not with the absolute ER values. LI and PCI, but not MI and PVI, showed an inverse relation to the ER values, but not to those of PR. ER and to lesser extent the PR values were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. The findings are discussed in the light of tumor-host relationships, and conclusion is drawn that the receptor determinations used in connection with the histological evaluation of these parameters (NG especially) are of definite benefit in dividing the breast cancer patients into groups of different expectancy of the future outcome of their disease.