Survey study, 1996
How do estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast tissue change during the menstrual cycle and with age?
Hormone receptor levels stay mostly the same throughout the menstrual cycle, but estrogen receptors decrease during the mid-cycle compared to around menstruation.
What they did
This study examined how estrogen and progesterone receptor levels varied in breast cancer tissue across different ages, menopausal status, and phases of the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Receptor levels remained unchanged during the follicular and luteal phases. However, estrogen receptor content was notably lower in the mid-cycle phase compared to the perimenstrual phase. Receptor patterns varied across different age groups and menopause stages. Receptor levels did not consistently match blood hormone levels, except in the luteal phase and in older postmenopausal women.
What it means for you
Hormone receptor changes mainly happen at mid-cycle and may matter for women with breast cancer. However, this study examined cancer tissue rather than healthy tissue, so findings may not apply to women without cancer. The study measured tissue once rather than following women across cycles.
45
age dividing premenopausal and middle-aged groups
59
age dividing middle-aged and postmenopausal groups
About the study
- Original title
- Variations in steroid hormone receptor content throughout age and menopausal periods, and menstrual cycle in breast cancer patients
- Authors
- Nikolić-Vukosavljević D, Vasiljević N, Branković-Magić M et al.
- Journal
- Neoplasma
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8841503/
Topics
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