Predictability of response to endocrine ablation in breast cancer.

Carcinoma of the breast remains the most common and most frequently lethal form of cancer in women. In far-advanced disease, endocrine manipulation remains the major modality of treatment. Recent advances have shown that approximately 40% of breast cancers contain estradiol receptors in their cytoplasm. The presence or absence of these receptors is a good indicator of whether or not the patient will respond to endocrine ablation.