Breast weight and hormone receptor status in women with breast cancer.

IntroductionAromatase activity in peripheral tissues including the breast is the main source of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

Category: International-Seminars-in-Surgical-Oncology

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IntroductionAromatase activity in peripheral tissues including the breast is the main source of estrogen in postmenopausal women. There is evidence that local estrogen synthesis by breast aromatase contributes to mammary carcinogenesis. Therefore, we have postulated that high breast weight is associated with ER+ tumours. Patients and methods: The mastectomy specimen weight, ER and PgR status for 62 consecutive patients who had a total mastectomy for operable breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The ER/PgR positivity was assessed using immunohistochemistry (Quickscore system 0-8) by a breast pathologist. ER/PgR status was considered positive if the score was 4 - 8. Results: Overall the breast weight was higher in patients with ER+ disease. The weight was found to be significantly higher in women aged 50 years or older with ER+ tumours (669 vs. 220 grams, p=0.015). There was no significant difference in breast weight between ER+ and ER- tumours in women aged less than 50 years (median weight: 440 vs.408 grams, p= 0.379). We observed a non-significant association between higher breast weight and PgR positivity (809 vs. 510 grams, p=0.084) and absence of c-erb B2 (p= 0.088). Conclusion: In women aged 50 years or older with breast cancer, high breast weight is significantly associated with ER+ tumours. If this is confirmed in larger prospective studies, our findings may have implications regarding breast cancer prevention with anti-estrogens. http://www.issoonline.com/content/2/1/11

M Salhab, W Al Sarakbi and K Mokbel

International Seminars in Surgical Oncology 2005, 2:11

2005-05-16

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