Abstract
Expression of the oestrogen-regulated pNR-2/pS2 protein has been studied in paraffin sections of a series of 172 primary breast cancers using an immunohistochemical technique. Positive staining of tumour cells was found in 117 tumours (68%): most of these tumours contained only a small proportion of positive cells. pNR-2 immunohistochemical staining correlated positively and significantly with the presence of oestrogen receptor. Mean percentages of pNR-2 positive cells were lower in tumours from postmenopausal women. Smaller, better differentiated tumours were significantly more likely to stain positively for pNR-2. The percentages of pNR-2 positive tumour cells in primary tumours and synchronously excised lymph node metastases were very similar. pNR-2 expression showed an unexpected positive association with lymph node metastasis. We were unable to find any significant association between pNR-2 immunohistochemical staining and either time to relapse or overall survival. There was a significant association between pNR-2 expression in primary tumours and response to endocrine therapy on relapse: positive pNR-2 immunohistochemical staining in primary tumours is predictive of response to hormonal therapy on relapse.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henry, J., Piggott, N., Mallick, U. et al. pNR-2/pS2 immunohistochemical staining in breast cancer: correlation with prognostic factors and endocrine response. Br J Cancer 63, 615–622 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1991.141
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1991.141
This article is cited by
-
GREB1 is a critical regulator of hormone dependent breast cancer growth
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (2005)
-
Predictive factors for response to endocrine therapy in patients with recurrent Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer (2000)
-
Relationship among PS2 protein expression, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and prognosis of breast cancer
Chinese Journal of Cancer Research (1999)
-
A second trefoil protein, ITF/hP1.B, is transcribed in human breast cancer
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (1996)
-
Immunohistochemical determination of pS2 in invasive breast carcinomas: a study on 942 cases
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (1995)