Steroid receptors in a group of Brazilian breast cancer patients.

Two hundred and forty-two primary breast cancers were assayed for estrogen receptors (ER). Of these, 202 were analyzed for progesterone receptors (PR) and 155 for glucocorticoid receptors (GR). ER was positive in 58% of the specimens; PR and GR were positive in 57%. A positive association was found between ER but not PR or GR frequency and age. Frequency of ER, PR, and GR positivity was approximately the same in premenopausal and postmenopausal women but ER content was much higher in postmenopausal women. About 70% of ER+ patients were also PR+ and GR+. Both frequency of PR positivity as well as average concentration, and frequency of GR positivity as well as average concentration were positively correlated with ER.