RESUMO
The content of receptors to estradiol (ER) and progesterone (PgR) was studied in hormone-dependent tumours from pre- and postmenopausal patients with an infiltrating ductal type of mammary cancer in clinical stage III. The receptors concentration was correlated with the response endocrine treatment. (ER) and (PgR) demonstrated values in the ranges 11-275 and 11-76 femtomoles/mg protein respectively. According to the type of receptor found, four different groups were found, the group (ER+) (PgR+) was found in 25% and 26% of the pre- and postmenopausal patients respectively, 31% and 27% demonstrated the group (ER+) (PgR-). The combination (ER-) (PgR+) was present in 21% of premenopausal women and 16% in the postmenopausal conditions. 23% and 31 of the pre- and postmenopausal women presented (ER-) (PgR-) respectively. Patients, to whom tamoxifen was administered, were those who demonstrated the following receptor groups: (ER+) (PgR+), (ER+) (PgR-) and (ER-) (PgR+). Following therapeutic treatment those surviving without tumoural activity, were those who demonstrated higher estrogen receptor values. The concentration of (ER) was observed to be decreased by 29% in patients who presented distant metastasis and in the cases with local metastasis, (ER) showed at 54% decrease with respect to (ER) values from symptomatic patients. The concentration of (PgR) remained constant in all the aforementioned groups.
