Background: The association between hormonal receptor expression and cell proliferation in breast tissues remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate hormonal receptor concentrations in various types of benign breast lesions.
Material/Methods: We evaluated the quantitative estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) content of breast epithelium in different benign lesions of 126 women who underwent breast biopsy (benign results). Benign breast lesions were divided according to proliferation activity criteria into: nonproliferative lesions, proliferative lesions without atypia, atypical hyperplasia and the most common entity - fibroadenomas. Evaluation of hormonal receptors was performed by means of Amersham's cytosolic saturation analysis with a 3H radioligand.
Results: We documented the significant difference of hormonal receptor concentrations dependent of the proliferative activity of breast lesions. Our data demonstrated the association of atypical breast hyperplasia with high ER and PR contents, with a prevalence of ER.
Conclusions: This event should be evaluated as a marker of increased breast cancer risk. Careful follow-up and treatment of these patients is a necessity. Based on hormonal receptor concentrations, a proper hormonal therapy may be selected in order to inhibit the proliferative potential of the breast lesion.

Keywords: breast cancer risk, hormonal receptors, benign breast diseases