Hormone Receptor Status

Tissue from a confirmed invasive breast cancer tumour is often examined for hormone receptor status to determine whether estrogen receptors (ER) or progesterone receptors (PR) are present. It reveals whether the tumour was stimulated to grow by female hormones.

This tissue sample is either taken from a breast biopsy, lumpectomy or mastectomy specimen. The tissue sample is tested with a special brown stain and then analyzed for the two receptors.  These receptors are then scored by the pathologist and added to determine the receptor status.

If a tumour is positive, it was stimulated by estrogen or progesterone. Receptor status is used by an oncologist to determine whether hormone therapy (such as Tamoxifen ®) will be offered.

Tumours may be:

• ER+ (Positive) and PR+ (Positive)

• ER- (Negative) and PR+ (Positive)

• ER+ (Positive) and PR- (Negative)

• ER- (Negative) and PR-(Negative)