Testing for Hormone Sensitivity

Your doctor may recommend a hormone receptor test to help determine treatment options and to help learn more about the tumor. This test can help to predict whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones.

The hormone receptor test measures the amount of certain proteins (called hormone receptors) in cancer tissue. Hormones (such as estrogen and progesterone that naturally occur in the body) can attach to these proteins. If the test is positive, it is indicating that the hormone is probably helping the cancer cells to grow.

In this case, hormone therapy may be given to block the way the hormone works and help keep the hormone away from the cancer cells (hormone receptors). If the test is negative, the hormone does not affect the growth of the cancer cells, and other effective cancer treatments may be given. Always discuss the results of the hormone receptor test with your doctor.

Treating with Hormone Therapy

The type of hormone therapy a person receives depends upon many factors, such as the type and size of the tumor, the age of the person, the presence of hormone receptors on the tumor, and other factors. With some cancers, patients may be given hormone therapy as soon as cancer is diagnosed, and before any other treatment. It may shrink a tumor or it may halt the advance of the disease.

If the test indicates that the hormones are affecting your cancer, the cancer may be treated in one of following ways:

• Treating cancer cells to keep them from receiving the hormones they need to grow. For example, when treating thyroid cancer, hormone therapy uses supplemental thyroid hormones to stop cancer cells from growing. This “suppressive” hormonal therapy is given as pills.
• Treating the glands that produce hormones to keep them from making hormones
• Surgery to remove glands that produce the hormones, such as the ovaries that produce estrogen, or the testicles that produce testosterone