Glossary Term:

Title

estrogen receptor assay

Phonetic


Description

A lab test done on a sample of the cancer to see if estrogen receptors are present. The growth of normal breast cells and some breast cancers is stimulated by estrogen. Breast cancer cells without these receptors (called estrogen-receptor negative or ER-negative) are unlikely to respond to hormone therapy. Estrogen-receptor positive cancers are more likely to respond to hormone therapy.