ERP in Visceral Metastases

In our experience (M7), 54% of primary breast carcinomas contain significant amounts of estrogen receptor protein compared with 42% of metastatic deposits. By far the most common sources of the metastases submitted for assay are skin, lymph nodes, and other nonvisceral soft tissue sources. The visceral metastases are the ones in which response to treatment is generally most important clinically, yet there is little information in the literature concerning the estrogen receptor protein status of visceral metastases. 

In addition, it has been known for some time that metastases to lung, brain, and liver do not usually respond to endocrine ablation. What is not known, however, is whether this phenomenon represents some inherent protective effect provided by these organs or metastases to these organs simply tend to have low estrogen receptor protein values. If the former explanation is true, ERP- visceral metastases should not respond as well as ERP positive metastases from other sites. These questions prompted a review of our experience with estrogen receptor protein (J5). 

All patients were female, 33 were white, and 1 was black. In Table 2 we conelated the status of ERP with 15 patients with liver metastases. A total of 6 

ERP status Patients (n) Evaluable patients who had endocrine ablation Evaluable patients who respondetP 

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