Hormone Receptor Status

Also known as: Oestrogen receptors; Progesterone receptors

Formal name: Oestrogen and Progesterone receptor status

Related tests: Her-2/neu; Tumour markers

At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To determine whether a breast cancer tumour is positive for oestrogen and/or progesterone receptors, which helps to guide treatment and determine prognosis

When to Get Tested?

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and your doctor wants to determine whether the tumour's growth is influenced by the hormones oestrogen and/or progesterone

Sample Required?

A sample of breast cancer tissue obtained during a biopsy or a tumour removed surgically during a lumpectomy or mastectomy

Test Preparation Needed?

None

The Test Sample

What is being tested?

Oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors are specialised proteins found within certain cells throughout the body. These receptors bind the female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, which both circulate in the blood.

Many breast cancer tumours have receptors for oestrogen and/or progesterone, often in large numbers. When receptors are present, the tumour is said to be Oestrogen Receptor positive (ER-positive) and/or Progesterone Receptor positive (PR-positive). These tumours are said to be hormone-dependent, and oestrogen and/or progesterone feed their growth. Breast cancer tissue can be tested to see if it is positive for these receptors.

How is the sample collected for testing?

A sample of breast cancer tissue is obtained (such as by doing a fine needle aspiration, needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy) or a tumour removed surgically during a lumpectomy or mastectomy is tested.

NOTE: If undergoing medical tests makes you or someone you care for anxious, embarrassed, or even difficult to manage, you might consider reading one or more of the following articles: Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety, Tips on Blood Testing, Tips to Help Children through Their Medical Tests, and Tips to Help the Elderly through Their Medical Tests.

Another article, Follow That Sample, provides a glimpse at the collection and processing of a blood sample and throat culture.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

None required

The Test

How is it used?

Hormone receptor status is used as a prognostic marker. Those with ER- and PR-positive tumours tend to have a better prognosis than those with ER- or PR-negative tumours.

The hormone receptor status test is also used to help determine treatment options, including endocrine therapy (anti-hormone treatments, such as tamoxifen), when a primary tumour has been removed or to help guide treatment decisions when a tumour recurs.

^ Back to top

When is it requested?

Hormone receptor status testing is recommended as part of an initial workup of invasive breast cancer. It is not diagnostic but helps the doctor to decide what are the treatment options and to help understand more about the tumour's characteristics.

^ Back to top

What does the test result mean?

In general, if a patient's cancer is ER- and PR-positive, the patient will have a better-than-average prognosis, and their cancer is likely to respond to endocrine therapy (anti-hormone treatments). The more receptors present and the more intense their reaction, the more likely the response. However, an individual's response depends on a variety of factors.
If a patient's cancer is ER-negative but PR-positive, the patient may still benefit from endocrine therapy but may have a diminished response.

If the cancer is both ER- and PR-negative, then the patient will probably not benefit from endocrine therapy.

^ Back to top

Is there anything else I should know?

Her-2/neu testing may be done at the same time as hormone receptor status testing. A patient with a positive oestrogen and/or progesterone receptor status may find their response to endocrine therapy diminished if they are also Her-2/neu-positive.

Hormone receptor status testing is not available in every laboratory.

^ Back to top

Common Questions

Is there a blood test that can be done to check my hormone receptor status?

1. Is there a blood test that can be done to check my hormone receptor status?

No. The cancer cells do not “shed” the receptors, so they are not detectable in the blood. They must be evaluated in the cancer tissue itself.

^ Back to top

Ask a Laboratory Scientist

Article Sources

« Return to Related Pages

NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.