Oestrogen receptor-β1 but not oestrogen receptor-βcx is of prognostic value in apocrine carcinoma of the breast
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
10-1-2008
Journal
APMIS
Volume
116
Issue
10
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0463.2008.01122.x
Keywords
Androgen receptor; HER2; Oestrogen receptor-α; Progesterone receptor; Triple negative
Abstract
Apocrine carcinoma of the breast, which frequently expresses oestrogen receptor-β (ER-β) in the absence of ER-α and only infrequently is treated endocrinologically, gives an opportunity to investigate the clinicopathological role of ER-β in breast cancer independent of ER-α expression or tamoxifen treatment. Several isotypes of ER-β, ER-β1-5 etc., have been identified thus far; however, the clinicopathological importance of each ER-β isotype in breast cancer is still uncertain. Here we aimed to clarify the clinicopathological importance of ER-β1 and ER-βcx (ER-β2) in apocrine carcinomas, immunohistochemically examining expressions of ER-β1 and ER-βcx in 47 apocrine carcinomas. Positivity for ER-β1 and ER-βcx was observed in 41 (87%) and 18 (38%) of 47 cases, respectively. ER-β1 positivity was related to smaller tumor size (P=0.0359), lower histological grade (P=0.0322), and higher disease-free survival (P<0.0001), whereas ER-βcx status was related to none of these parameters. ER-β1 positivity was also associated with favorable clinical outcome in 24 so-called triple-negative (ER-α-negative/PR-negative/HER2- negative) apocrine carcinomas. ER-β1 itself, independent of ER-α expression and tamoxifen treatment, seems to have a tumor-suppressive effect, at least in apocrine carcinomas. Further study of ER-β1 is desired to optimize breast cancer treatment. © The Authors 2008.
APA Citation
Honma, N., Saji, S., Kurabayashi, R., Aida, J., Arai, T., Horii, R., Akiyama, F., Iwase, T., Harada, N., Younes, M., Toi, M., Takubo, K., & Sakamoto, G. (2008). Oestrogen receptor-β1 but not oestrogen receptor-βcx is of prognostic value in apocrine carcinoma of the breast. APMIS, 116 (10). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0463.2008.01122.x