Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of hormone receptor status detection in simultaneous axillary metastasis for hormone receptor-negative primary breast cancer patients.
Methods Using immunohistochemical methods, hormone receptor status detection in axillary lymph node metastasis was performed among breast cancer patients with simultaneous axillary metastasis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The subjects comprised patients who visited the clinic for follow up or those who were hospitalized from July 2012 to January 2013. Endocrine therapy was given for patients diagnosed with positive hormone receptor in their simultaneous axillary metastasis.
Results Out of 56 patients with hormone receptor-negative primary breast cancer, 14.3% gained estrogen receptor (ER), 3.6% gained progesterone receptor (PR), and 5.4% gained ER and PR in their simultaneous axillary metastasis, and then underwent endocrine therapy. The discordance rate of hormone receptor expression between primary tumor and axillary metastasis was 23.3%.
Conclusion Some discordance rates of hormone receptor status between primary tumor and simultaneous axillary metastasis were observed. Through hormone receptor status detection in simultaneous axillary metastasis, we may possibly distinguish patients with negative ER and PR, among whom endocrine therapy may be active.