The influence of hormone replacement therapy on the pathology of breast cancer

Aim of the study: To assess whether the pathological characteristics of breast carcinomas arising in post-menopausal women who ever used hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) differ from those of post-menopausal patients who never used HRT. Materials and methods: Six hundred and forty three consecutive breast cancer patients were entered in a case control-study. Cases were represented by 111 breast cancer patients who had used or were using HRT at the time of diagnosis, while the remaining 532 patients who never used HRT were chosen as controls. Results: Tumour diameter was smaller in HRT users (17.6 vs 22.1 mm; p = 0.002) and tumours of lobular histology were almost twice more frequent among HRT users as in,never users' (21 vs 12%; p = 0.01). No differences were found in grading, hormonal. receptor status and axillary nodal status. The expression of c-erb B-2, p53, Ki67 e PS2 measured by immunohistochemistry was similar in the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HRT use may modify the pathotogical presentation of breast cancer. Further studies are indicated, white other clinical-pathological characteristics did not differ according to HRT use. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.