Elastosis and steroid receptors in primary breast cancer.

The association between the presence of both estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, and the grade of elastosis was evaluated in 100 primary breast carcinomas, 37% of which were from menopausal patients. ER levels were higher in post- than in premenopausal women but only when both ER and PR were present. Progesterone receptor levels were independent of menstrual status but the lowest PR positivity in premenopausal patients was observed during the late luteal phase. The extent of elastosis of the 100 tumors was: Grade 0 (absent), 24%; Grade 1 (small or moderate), 49%, and Grade 2 (marked), 27%. The extent of elastosis was not related to the patient's menstrual status. A significant association was observed between marked elastosis and the presence or absence of both ER and PR. No relationship was observed between the ER + PR and ER-PR+ subclasses and the extent of elastosis. Our data suggest that marked elastosis results from the presence of hormone-dependent cells in human breast carcinomas.