Intra-tumoural variation of oestrogen receptor status in endometrial cancer

Soluble and nuclear oestrogen receptor status was determined in both the central and peripheral portions of tumour for 37 cases of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. Of these, 29 had functional receptor in the peripheral biopsy, but only 19 retained functional receptor in the centre. Six of the 10 patients whose tumours showed this difference came from the group of 12 patients who were immediately post-menopausal (4.50 +/- 1.45 y post-menopausal age). Receptor status was not related to tumour classification into histological grades I and II. However, receptor-negative central biopsies were significantly more likely (P less than 0.05) to be Grade III. Early relapse was also related to a receptor-negative central biopsy.