Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expression in Breast Carcinoma and Its Association With Clinicopathological Variables Among the Pakistani Population

Introduction The prognosis of breast cancer depends on the histological type, size of the tumor, tumor necrosis, skin, nipple and chest wall invasion, lymphovascular invasion, grade, stage, the status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), cell proliferation marker (ki-67), and type of therapy. Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression in breast cancer is, so far, the most useful predictive marker. We have undertaken this study to find the expression of ER and PgR in breast carcinoma and its association with other prognostically important clinicopathological variables. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 130 cases of modified radical mastectomy that have been diagnosed as malignant on histopathology were collected from the pathology department of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, from January 2016 to May 2018. The demographic data and gross and microscopic findings were recorded. Immunohistochemistry (ER, PgR) was applied to suitable tumor sections and their status was evaluated semi-quantitatively by histopathologists using College American Pathologist (CAP) guidelines. Result Most of the breast cancer patients (69; 53.1%) were below 50 years of age. Fifty-nine (45.4%) and 48 (36.9%) cases were positive for ER and PgR, respectively, showing lower hormonal receptor positivity than that reported in the western population where ER expression has been found in 50%-80% of cases and PR expression is found in 60%-70% of cases of invasive ductal carcinoma. The association of the expression of hormone receptors with a clinicopathological variable was demonstrated. ER-/PgR- tumors showed a higher histologic grade, greater tumor size, and more lymph node involvement by metastasis. Conclusion Low hormone receptor positivity is associated with young patients, advanced stage at presentation, and higher grade in our population. The tumor characteristics are different as compared to the western population. This suggests more consideration to the screening, early diagnosis, and molecular or immunohistochemical typing of this cancer in our population.