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Estrogen receptor variants in breast cancer

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Mammary Tumorigenesis and Malignant Progression

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 71))

Abstract

The relationship between estrogen (E2) and carcinoma of the breast has been appreciated for nearly 100 years. In the late nineteenth century, Beatson reported that patients with inoperable breast tumors frequently responded to surgical castration [1], still a first-line therapeutic modality in premenopausal patients. Other manipulations designed to lower the concentrations of circulating E2 or to block its effects are also as effective, inducing remissions in about 30% –40% of patients [2]. Since alternative treatments are available for breast cancer patients, it is important for clinicians to consider all available biological factors that can predict which of these women are likely to respond to hormonal treatments. Among these variables, the estrogen receptor (ER) is the most important in predicting response to hormonal treatments. Multiple clinical studies show that those patients whose tumors express ER have a 70%–80% chance of response, compared to only 10% in those that do not [3–5].

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Authors
  1. Carlos A. Encarnacion
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  2. Suzanne A. W. Fuqua
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lombardi Cancer Research Center, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Robert B. Dickson  & Marc E. Lippman  & 

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Encarnacion, C.A., Fuqua, S.A.W. (1994). Estrogen receptor variants in breast cancer. In: Dickson, R.B., Lippman, M.E. (eds) Mammary Tumorigenesis and Malignant Progression. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 71. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2592-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2592-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6109-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2592-9

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