Hormone Receptor Subtype in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Prognostic and Predictive Roles of the Progesterone Receptor

Abstract

Background: We investigated the prognostic and predictive roles of the hormone receptor (HRc) subtype in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We focused on identifying the roles of the progesterone receptor (PR) independent of estrogen receptor (ER) status. Methods: Nationwide data of 12,508 female patients diagnosed with DCIS with a mean follow-up period of 60.7 months were analyzed. HRc subtypes were classified as ER−/PR−, ER−/PR+, ER+/PR−, and ER+/PR+ based on ER and PR statuses. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The ER+/PR+ group showed better prognoses than the ER+/PR− and ER−/PR− groups in the patients who received tamoxifen therapy (p =.001 and p =.031, respectively). HRc subtype was an independent prognostic factor (p =.028). The tamoxifen therapy group showed better survival than the patients who did not receive tamoxifen, but only in the ER+/PR+ subgroup (p =.002). Tamoxifen therapy was an independent prognostic factor (HR, 0.619; 95% CI, 0.423 − 0.907; p =.014). PR status was a favorable prognostic factor in patients with DCIS who received tamoxifen therapy (p