Immunohistochemical determination of androgen receptors in relation to oestrogen and progesterone receptors in female breast cancer

Abstract

The expression of oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and androgen (AR) receptors in female breast cancer was investigated by immunohistochemistry on snap-frozen tissue specimens of a series of 100 breast cancers. For detection of the AR we used a recently developed mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the N-terminal domain of the human AR. Expression of AR was compared with that of ER and PR as well as with tumour grade and age. Of the breast cancers investigated, 76% were AR-positive. This high percentage corresponds well with previous data on AR expression in breast cancer determined with ligand-binding assays. In 53% of the tumours AR, ER and PR were present, while 9% of the tumours were positive for AR and negative for ER and PR. In 13% of the tumours no ER, PR or AR expression was seen; these were all grade-III tumours. A positive correlation was found between age and ER expression, but no correlation was seen between age and PR or AR. Future studies should establish the prognostic value of the combination ER, PR and AR determinations on female breast cancer with regard to biological behaviour and response rate to hormonal therapy.

Androgen receptor in breast cancer: expression in estrogen receptor-positive tumors and in estrogen receptor-negative tumors with apocrine differentiation

“…In limited studies over the last two decades, AR expression has been observed in 470% cases of breast carcinoma. [22][23][24] This figure is concordant with the AR expression in 80% of the cases in this study of 189 consecutive invasive breast cancers. Gonzalez et al 22 showed AR reactivity in 74.8% of 111 breast carcinomas using the same antibody clone and dilution used in this study.…”

“…In a series of 100 snap-frozen breast cancer tissues, Kuenen-Boumeester identified AR expression in 76% cases. 24 One large study of 488 cases from Poland has shown a lower rate (43.4%) of AR expression in breast carcinoma, but this study also reported much lower rates of ER (39.3%) and PR (24.6%) expression. 25 This study also used the same AR antibody clone and dilution as the a Four were luminal A and 4 were luminal B (see Table 2).…”

“…Previous studies have also shown an association with ER expression 23 and some reports indicated AR expression in ER-negative tumors. 24,26 In the last few years our understanding of breast carcinoma has significantly improved with discovery of breast cancer molecular classes using the 14,29 We designed this study to analyze AR expression in breast carcinoma with respect to IHC-defined molecular classes and also its relationship to other clinical-pathological factors.…”

Androgen receptor expression in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: relation to oestrogen and progesterone receptors

“…AR is expressed in approximately 35-75% of breast cancers. [8][9][10] Variations may be attributable to different methodologies and different fixatives, but a different case mix may also affect these studies. It has been shown that AR values correlate reasonably well with oestrogen receptor (ER) values, but more so with those for the progesterone receptor (PR).…”

“…It has been shown that AR values correlate reasonably well with oestrogen receptor (ER) values, but more so with those for the progesterone receptor (PR). [8][9][10][11] AR positive breast cancer patients have prolonged survival and a better response to hormonal treatment than AR negative patients. Thus, some workers believe that knowledge of the receptor status of all three receptors may identify more accurately those patients with breast cancer who are most likely to respond to endocrine treatment.…”