Relationship between hormone receptor status and tumour size, grade and comedo necrosis in ductal carcinoma in situ

Background: Results of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project B-24 trial indicate that adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is of benefit only in oestrogen receptor (ER)- positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In the UK, ER status is not routinely determined in DCIS. The aim of this study was to assess the ER status in women with DCIS to determine whether any clinicopathological factors could predict positivity instead of immunohistochemical assessment. Methods: The ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status of consecutive women diagnosed with DCIS during 2001 and 2002 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: One hundred and nineteen tumours diagnosed between 2001 and 2002 were analysed; 73(.)0 per cent were ER positive and 61(.)1 per cent were PR positive. PR positivity was associated with ER positivity (P < 0(.)001). Increasing tumour grade correlated with a decrease in ER and PR positivity (both P = 0(.)002). Comedo necrosis was associated with ER negativity (P = 0(.)026), PR negativity (P = 0(.)033) and a lower percentage of ER expression in ER-positive tumours (mean(s.d.) 82(27) versus 93(10) per cent; P = 0(.)021). Conclusion: Tumour grade and comedo necrosis were not strong enough predictors to be used as surrogates for immunohistochemical assessment. ER status should be determined before commencing endocrine therapy.