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Distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors in healthy tissue adjacent to breast lesions at various stages — Immunohistochemical study of 107 cases

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Summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of ER+ (estrogen receptor) and PR+ (progesterone receptor) epithelial cells in normal mammary tissue or in tissue in contact with or involved in benign or malignant processes. Three important findings emerged from this study.

First, a true dissociation was observed between ER+ and PR+ cells in mammary tissue. In premenopausal women some cells express only progesterone receptors. In premenopausal normal tissue, regardless of the menstrual cycle status, 6% of cells are ER+ and 29% PR+.

Second, during the menstrual cycle the percentage of positive cells varies. This finding would indicate a change in cell recruitment rather than in intracellular levels.

Finally, specific changes in the proportion of positive cells in normal tissue in contact with epithelial proliferations were noted. This finding suggests the possibility of either a diffusible factor or a cellular pathological process spreading beyond areas displaying morphological changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut J. Paoli, I. Calmettes, 232 bd Sainte Marguerite, 13273, Marseille cedex 9, France

    Jocelyne D. Jacquemier, Jacques Hassoun & Michèle Torrente

  2. Faculté Nord, bd Pierre Dramard, 13326, Marseille cedex 15, France

    Pierre-Marie Martin

Authors
  1. Jocelyne D. Jacquemier
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  2. Jacques Hassoun
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  3. Michèle Torrente
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  4. Pierre-Marie Martin
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Jacquemier, J.D., Hassoun, J., Torrente, M. et al. Distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors in healthy tissue adjacent to breast lesions at various stages — Immunohistochemical study of 107 cases. Breast Cancer Res Tr 15, 109–117 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01810783

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