Steroid Receptor Levels; Anti-depressants; Endocrine therapy resistance

Hello shybird, On Steroid hormone receptor The report for ER and PR is based on Immunohistochemistry. This is a semi-quantitative test, based on percentage of cells staining positive and intensity of the stain. Both of these items are based on an estimate done by the pathologist. A different pathologist may give a slightly different reading. The point here is that, this isn’t really a quantitative test, and so it would be difficult to stratify if there really is a difference for example: between 40% from 42% from 50%. The only stratification is whether it is positive or negative. We can't really say, where along the spectrum you really are based on these tests. What is being measured by immunohistochem is the presence of a protein that interacts with the hormone (estrogen). It doesn’t guarantee a response. One analogy is that: if the animal has sharp teeth (the immunohistochemistry identifies the “teeth”), it would likely eat meat than vegetables. But it doesn’t guarantee that it will fail to survive without meat in the event that it gets starved (hence not all will have a response). A response is based on the tumor shrinking, or preventing the tumor from coming back. Since you have had surgery, you will only know if it worked or not based on the presence of a recurrence. Hence, there is no way to test if it does work. There is no specific treatment for cases that are hormone resistant. Most of such patients would be offered chemotherapy. On Antidepressants and Breast Cancer Risk: The theory behind this is the effect of some of these drugs on prolactin levels. Prolactin can play a part in the development of breast cancer. There is data to show that women who have abnormal levels of prolactin may have a higher risk for breast cancer. The critical issue here, is whether the drugs would invariably produce this effect. If we only look at women taking the antidepressants – there doesn’t seem to be a clear increased risk. It is unlikely then, that your prior treatment has anything to do with the cancer developing. On Vitamins No specific vitamin has shown a clear beneficial effect in preventing cancer. If you are receiving TAC, there doesn’t seem to be any specific problematic interation. You may want to consider Vitamin D and Calcium supplements, more for the risk of osteoporosis rather than for a cancer indication.

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