Role of estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β expression in the disease outcome of invasive luminal type a breast carcinoma patients: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ERβ, members of family of ERs are expressed in many breast tumors. However, their role in carcinogenesis and their association with regard to the prognosis are still under the investigation and unclear because of limited data. Aims: The present cross-sectional, observational pilot study was aimed to study the immunohistochemical expression and prognostic significance of ERα and ERβ in invasive luminal Type A breast carcinoma patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five old diagnosed cases of luminal Type A breast carcinoma diagnosed between 2012 and 2015 were included in the study. The expression of markers ERα and ERβ was correlated with the clinical characteristics and disease outcome in 2–7 years follow-up period. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 17.0 and graph pad PRISM 5.0 version. Results: Eleven cases out of 25 were both (ERα and ERβ) positive, whereas 1 case was both (ERα and ERβ) negative. Positivity with single marker was 12 for ERα and 20 for ERβ. Adverse outcomes, i.e., recurrence, distant metastasis, and death were reported in 10 cases (40%), 8 out of which were ERα negative cases. While ERα-positive expression alone or along with ERβ expression was shown to be associated with less adverse outcomes (2 out of 10, P = 0.005). Conclusions: When both ERα and ERβ expression is present, they appear to act as allies and together presents with the better prognosis in disease outcomes of breast cancer in our study cases.