Estrogen receptor status of breast cancer: a marker of different stages of tumor or different entities of the disease?

Breast cancer can be divided into two types according to the estrogen receptor (ER) level of the tumor: ER-positive and ER-negative. Two hypotheses have been raised about the relationship between ER-positive and ER-negative breast tumors. One hypothesis considers ER status as an indicator of a diffe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 1997-07, Vol.49 (1), p.69-75
Main Authors: Zhu, K., Bernard, L.J., Levine, R.S., Williams, S.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism
Breast Neoplasms - etiology
Breast Neoplasms - metabolism
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Models, Biological
Neoplasm Staging
Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - etiology
Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - metabolism
Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - pathology
Receptors, Estrogen - genetics
Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism
Risk Factors
Tumors
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Summary:Breast cancer can be divided into two types according to the estrogen receptor (ER) level of the tumor: ER-positive and ER-negative. Two hypotheses have been raised about the relationship between ER-positive and ER-negative breast tumors. One hypothesis considers ER status as an indicator of a different stage of the disease. The other regards ER-positive and ER-negative tumors as different entities. For both etiological and biological studies of breast cancer it is important to know which hypothesis is correct. In this paper, we review evidence for and against each hypothesis and suggest issues to be addressed in future studies.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/S0306-9877(97)90255-3