Can progesterone receptor be used to predict the outcome of cancer?

This paper evaluated the role of progesterone receptor in determining the outcome of cancer. 

Estrogen receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer refers to cancer that has estrogen receptors present on cancer cells and HER2 absent on cancer cells. Ki-67 is a protein that is used to measure how cells multiply in cancer. Thus, Ki-67 is sometimes used to predict the outcome of cancer, although it might not be very accurate. Studies have found that patients with progesterone receptor negative (absent) breast cancer have poorer disease-free survival (period without signs of cancer). It is thought that progesterone receptor can be used to determine the outcome of estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative breast cancer.

327 patients with estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative breast cancer were studied. They were followed-up for an average of 26.4 months. Cancer returned in 18 patients. 53.5% of breast cancer cases had low levels of Ki-67 while 46.5% had high levels of Ki-67. 39.1% of cases had low levels of progesterone receptor and 60.9% had high levels of progesterone receptor.

The authors studied distant relapse-free survival, which is a measure of the time from diagnosis to the return of cancer to other parts of the body. Overall, patients with high levels of Ki-67 had worse distant relapse-free survival than patients with low Ki-67 levels. Those with low levels of progesterone receptor had a worse distant relapse-free survival than those with high levels of progesterone receptor. For patients who have not yet reached menopause, levels of Ki-67 and  progesterone receptor were not associated with distant relapse-free survival. High Ki-67 levels increased the risk of a worse distant relapse free survival by 3.8 times. Low levels of progesterone receptor increased the risk of a worse distant relapse free survival by 2.54 times. 

The authors concluded that a low progesterone receptor levels was associated with a poorer outcome for estrogen positive and HER2 negative breast cancer in patients who have had menopause. 

Discuss with your doctor about using progesterone receptor to predict the outcome of cancer and determine an effective treatment plan.