Liver Mets: What Does 60% Progesterone Positive Mean

[Jackie07]

[Also from breastcancer.org http://www.breastcancer.org/news_res...uestion_07.jsp]
Page last modified on: July 1, 2009

Question from Deirdre: Is there ongoing research as to exactly what PR+ means to breast cancer? We all know that ER+ means that the lesion is fed by estrogen, but when I look up PR+ it states that the lesion is affected by progesterone but not that it feeds the cancer. Can you explain where the research is on progesterone and breast cancer? Thanks!

Answer —Nicholas Robert, M.D.: The progesterone receptor, we think, is positive when there is an impact on the functioning estrogen receptor. In patients where both receptors are positive, we think that hormonal/endocrine therapy will be more effective. There is an uncommon subset of tumors where the estrogen receptor is negative and the progesterone receptor is positive. We think in that group there are still some benefits to using hormonal treatments, although the benefit is less.

[Becky]

Hi

I wanted to point out an article that Soccermom just posted in "Articles of Interest" on testing tumor blocks for ER and PR. It mentions the ER neg PR positive types and that they should be retested as it is almost too rare to be seen.

Just wanted to make sure you caught that article.