Can the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer be altered by neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

In order to know whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy would change the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer, 10 patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant CEF (endoxan, epirubicin, 5‐fluorouracil) were studied. Tissue was obtained by incisional biopsy before chemotherapy and by mastectomy after three courses of treatment. All the specimens were subjected to histology study and the tests of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors. The results revealed that the only hormonal status of one out of 10 tumors was altered. Among the 10 tumors, 2 out of 10 ER and 3 out of 10 PgR were changed after neoadjuvant CEF. From our results together with others findings, it is concluded that neoadjuvant CEF dose not significantly change the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer. The hormonal receptor assay is unnecessary before chemotherapy. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.