Prognostic role of oestrogen, progesterone and androgen receptor in relation to patient age in patients with breast cancer

The recent introduction of androgen receptor (AR) status in breast cancer allows comparison of its prognostic role with that of progesterone (PgR) and oestrogen receptor (ER). In the present study of 269 breast cancer patients, a significant survival effect was found for PgR at 60 months, while ER and AR were of less importance. However, the prognostic role of ER and AR was dependent on patient age. In patients under 60 years, the effects of ER and AR were of borderline significance, i.e. slightly weaker than that of PgR. In older patients the effect of PgR was weak. The prognostic role of PgR, ER and AR appears to be age dependent.