testing LCIS for ER/PR receptors?

LisaM12

Hello to all,



I am very grateful to have found this site, particularly this forum since I was recently diagnosed with LCIS after an excisional biopsy several weeks ago.



I got a copy of the final path report last week, and noticed they had added an addendum for ER/PR testing of the cells, (both positive). I was just curious to know if this was common for this diagnosis or if anyone else had this done.

Edit to above; ok so I have answered my own question, lol, looking through the sigs of several here I see more than a few have ER/PR status listed.

Don't know why it was put on as an addendum, unless that is common as well.

Lisa



Lisa

leaf

Yes, its quite common for LCIS to be ER and/or PR positive.  I have classic LCIS and was tested to be ER positive and PR negative (in 2005).

In this old (1998) study they found over 90% of LCIS cases were ER positive. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9674874 

In this paper they found 3/10 PLCIS patients to have some areas of ER negative PLCIS in an area that had the more traditional ER positive LCIS. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Carder PJ LCIS

There are actually 2 types of ER receptors: ERalpha and ERbeta.  Mine were only tested (in 2005) as ER (not alpha or beta).  One paper speculates that PR negativity may be more associated with LCIS *with* invasive cancer.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19309393 This is just one paper, and a speculation. 

If you are ER and/or PR positive, that means that it is much more likely that tamoxifen may be one choice for you, if you so choose that path.

LisaM12

Leaf,

thank you for the info. There were no % with my report, only positive or neg. I had no idea that they tested LCIS for receptors until I came here, kinda freaked me out at first.



Lisa

JanetM

I looked at my pathology report and it does not indicate ER/PR status.  Guess it wasn't done.

Anonymous

when I was diagnosed  (in 2003) they talked about having the receptors tested. Afterwards, they said the sample size was too small, so it wasn't done. Apparently most LCIS is hormone positive anyway, so they still recommended I take tamoxifen. ( which I did for 5 years).

anne 

JanetM

I am holding off on the conversation on hormonal therapy until after my follow up diagnostic mammo in November.

beacon800

Yes it is normal to test for ER/PR receptors with an LCIS finding.  Mine were both postitive 90%.  It is very typical to have ER+ for LCIS and this is why they recommend tamoxifen as it is an estrogen blocker to the breast.