Studies on estradiol receptors in human mammary carcinomas

CYTOPLASMIC estradiol receptors in human mammary carcinomas correlated with total protein, nuclear estradiol receptors, progesterone receptors and CEA but not with tumour levels of estrogens or progesterone. The proportion of estaradiol receptor positive tumours decreased with increasing stage, grade and lymphocyte infiltration of the tumours. Lobular carcinomas were more frequently receptor-positive than ductal carcinomas. Patients with estradiol receptor negative tumours had a significantly worse survival than patients with estradiol receptor positive tumours.