| What are Estrogen and Progesterone receptors? |
Receptors are molecules on the surface of our cells that drugs or hormones can bind to and stimulate. Breast cancer cells express estrogen and progesterone receptors on their cell surfaces about 65% of the time. These hormones are naturally occurring in a woman’s body and may promote growth of the cancer. Tumors such as these are called ER/PR positive cancers and benefit from hormone manipulation or blockade. Tamoxifen has been used and studied extensively as a hormone receptor blocker. The aromatase inhibitors block the production of these hormones by inhibiting the Aromatase enzyme. Either way, the tumor is suppressed by the inability of estrogen or progesterone to stimulate its growth. It is thought that ER/PR positive tumors have a better prognosis.
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