No abstract

Histological grading of 126 oestrogen receptor positive and 81 oestrogen receptor negative breast carcinomas, using the WHO system, showed that some tumours in all grades had high receptor values, others low. There was no correlation between the receptor values and histological grade. It is suggested that factors other than the degree of dedifferentiation of the tumour may be responsible for the consistent tendency for receptor negative tumours to be placed in a high histological grade.

Histological grading of 160 primary infiltrating breast carcinomas showed that both oestrogen and progesterone receptor status are strongly related to grade, tumours that are receptor positive tending to be of lower grade than the receptor negative. The nuclear factors used in grading were those that determined this association. In addition the absence/presence of both receptors was reflected in the grade present, beyond the correlation expected on the basis of either receptor alone.

In recent years changes have occurred in the 5-year survival pattern and relative side distribution of operable breast carcinoma in this district. The 87 cases from 1970 showed the expected pattern; node-negative cases doing better than node-positive, irrespective of side. In 163 cases from the same population given similar treatment in 1975 those with left-sided disease fared better, irrespective of nodal status. No side differences were found at operation in the 1970 group, and little evidence of such changes in 1975, but clear differences were present in a third group of 63 patients from 1980. It is suggested that women in this district are becoming consistently more successful at finding their tumours, particularly on the left. It may thus be advisable to include side as a discriminant in clinical trials.