Progesteron Receptor Status in Determining the Prognosis of Estrogen Receptor Positive / HER2-Negative Breast Carcinoma

ABSTRACT Background The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether progesteron receptor (PgR) status have an influence on the prognosis of estrogen receptor positive (ER+)/HER2-negative breast carcinoma (BC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical files of 1680 operable BC patients (pts) diagnosed between 1996 and 2011 and 456 of whom ER,PgR and HER2 status known were included in this study. Patients were categorized into 2 groups; as group A (ER + /PgR-/HER2-negative) and group B (ER + /PgR + /HER2-negative). Twenty one percent (97 pts) of the pts were in group A. Results Median follow up was 33.5 (0-177) months. Median age was 54 (21-90) years. Sixty-one percent (278) of the pts had node-positive BC. Sixty percent (276) of the pts were postmenopausal. Eighty percent (365) of the pts received adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Adjuvant hormonotherapy (AHT) was recommended to nearly all patients (mostly tamoxifen). Pts in group A had significantly higher lymph node positive disease as compared to group B (%70 vs 59%, p = .046). Although there was no statistically significant difference between two groups for the first site of recurrence (mostly bone and soft tissue, p = .51), the number of recurrence and mortality events in group B were proportionally less than group A [27.8% and 21.2% for group B and 42.7% and 32.2% for group A;p = .005 and p = .004, respectively). In the node-positive subgroup, an important difference for relative risk RR of BC recurrence between groups A and B was found (34/68 vs 75/207, RR 1.3, CI:1.02-1.86, p = .034). But, the mortality risk was similar for lymph node-positive pts in groups A and B (16/63 vs 50/201,RR 1.0, CI:0.62-1.66,p = 0.93). Although DFS for group B was shorter, it was not statistically significant (5-year DFS rate 45% vs 35% p = .24). However, 5-year overall survival (OS) was significantly longer for pts in group B than group A (78% vs 67%,p = .043). Conclusions PgR status has a great influence on the prognosis of BC pts especially negative PgR may have a significant negative influence on the prognosis of node-positive ER + /HER2- BC pts. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.