Custom Search by Tirgan.com

Home    Content    services

Hormone Receptors

Hormones are natural substances that are produced in our body and play important roles in controlling different body functions. Sex hormones control the sexual development of male and female bodies. For every hormone, there is a specific receptor where the hormone binds with the target cells in order to influence them.

Some cancers are dependent on certain hormones for their growth, i.e., breast and prostate cancers. Manipulation of the hormones or the receptors may influence the growth of cancer and aid in its control. Normal breast tissue, as well as the breast cancer tissue, have receptors for both female hormones:

• Estrogens

• Progesterone

These hormones influence the cell growth by way of:

1. Attaching to the cells

2. Relaying information to the cell's growth control mechanisms

These processes are quite complex and not well understood. Interference and manipulation of these steps has lead into great scientific discoveries and novel cancer treatments. Estrogen Receptors (ER) and Progesterone Receptors (PR) are molecules on the surface of normal breast cells. The presence or absence of these molecules on the breast cancer cells has a prognostic and predictive value.  Presence of these receptor molecules on the cancer cells, referred to as Estrogen Receptors Positive ( ER+ ) and Progesterone Receptors Positive ( PR+ ) tumors, indicates a better prognosis for the cancer. Absence of these receptors (ER -,PR-) indicates a poor prognosis. This piece of information must be put into perspective with other information about the patient and her cancer.