Whats the difference

I am not real sure - my path report didnt mention either (it is LUMINAL A and

Here's a description I copied from an article in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention:

"Specifically, luminal A tumors, characterized by positive ER/progesterone receptor (PR) and negative HER2, show the most favorable clinical features among the five subtypes. Luminal B tumors express HER1 and HER2 in addition to ER/PR and show less favorable clinical outcomes compared with luminal A tumors. Basal-like tumors are characterized by the expression of cytokeratins 5/6 (CK5/6) and CK17 and are prevalent in patients with BRCA1 mutations (2). Basal-like and HER2-overexpressing groups both are ER/PR-negative and have been associated with poor clinical features and survival. This classification has been highly consistent in independent studies using different array platforms, tumor sets, and statistical analyses."

There seems to be numerous opinions on what constitutes luminal A and luminal B. I try to consider my source when forming a conclusion.

Well, I wanted to know whether I was Luminal A or Luminal B when trying to decide if I should stop the AI's earlier than planned. I thought the better I understood my pathology the sounder my decision to stop or not would be. I already knew my chemo-- dose dense AC then Taxotere-- was probably of dubious benefit to my highly er, pr positive IDC. But--I never could find out because nobody does this test, which is difficult and expensive apparently.It is interesting because as you mention, KerryMac, there are treatment implications and well as prognostic implications between Luminal A and Luminal B cancers. My onc had no idea which I was, but guessed that I was Luminal A. So, then I did the OnctotypeDx on old archived tissue and it came back an 18. I am assuming the Luminal B's would be higher than that.

Interesting that none of you guys, many of whom were diagnosed much after me, have no idea either which you are.

Hi, I think it is how high your ki 67 was in the pathology of your tumor that makes the difference espcially if you are Her -.  here is an article on it   http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/djp082v1 

I plan on asking my oncologist what the ki 67 was on the  oncotypeDX since the path from the biospy said the ki 67 was 16 and the ki 67 on the whole tumor after surgery was a 7.  They were done at different labs by different doctors so would like to know what the oncotype said.  The reason it is important to me is there is some discussion that drug you use before memopause is not as effective on luminal B's.  I am using arimidex but she has said if I can not tolerate it she might put me on the tomoxin (misspelled) and i do not want to do that if it is not effective.