[Prognostic and therapeutic significance of steroid receptors in invasive breast cancer].

It is generally accepted that breast cancer with positive steroid receptors has a better prognosis than with negative receptors. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors regarding disease-free interval (DFI) and overall (oa) survival of 441 patients operated on in the Department of Gynaecology of the University Hospital of Zürich. Analysis of the subgroups separated according to menopausal status showed the following results: Premenopausal patients (n = 135): Only PR have a significant influence on the oa-survival (p = 0.0370), not the ER. The DFI was independent of ER and PR positive findings. Postmenopausal patients (n = 306): In this group only the ER has a significant influence (p = 0.0296) on the oa-survival, not the PR. Both steroid receptors did not have any influence regarding DFI. Metastases and local recurrence occur pre- and postmenopausaly approximately at the same time, independent of the quality of the steroid receptors. The better oa-survival despite the same DFI can be explained by a better response to the therapy by patients in the premenopause with positive PR status and patients in the postmenopause with positive ER status.