A hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) tumor is a tumor which consists of cells that express receptors for certain hormones. The term most commonly refers to estrogen receptor positive tumors (i.e. tumors that contain estrogen receptor positive cells), but can also include progesterone receptor positive tumors. Estrogen-receptor-positive tumors depend on the presence of estrogen for ongoing proliferation.

Classification

ER-positive is one of the Receptor statuses identified in the classification of breast cancer. Receptor status was traditionally considered by reviewing each individual receptor (ER, PR, her2) in turn, but newer approaches look at these together, along with the tumor grade, to categorize breast cancer into several conceptual molecular classes that have different prognoses and may have different responses to specific therapies. DNA microarrays have assisted this approach. Breast tumors that do not express ER, PR or Her2 are referred to as triple-negative breast cancers.

Treatment

Endocrine treatment may be beneficial for patients with hormone receptor positive breast tumors. There are two ways for treating these kind of tumors: