receptorpositive

Receptorpositive, often written as receptor-positive, is a term used in biomedical contexts to describe cells, tissues, or tumors that exhibit detectable expression of one or more receptor proteins. It is not a formal diagnosis on its own but a descriptive label attached to specific receptors, such as estrogen receptor (ER) or HER2, to indicate their presence.

Receptorpositive status is typically determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue samples, flow cytometry on cells, or molecular assays such as RT-PCR in some settings. IHC scoring systems measure the proportion of cells staining and the staining intensity to classify samples as positive or negative, with thresholds varying by receptor and guideline.

In clinical practice, receptorpositive cancers often respond to therapies that target those receptors. For example, ER-positive or PR-positive breast cancers may be treated with endocrine therapies; HER2-positive cancers may receive anti-HER2 drugs.

Receptorpositive status can be heterogeneous within a tumor and can change over time or after treatment. Examples include ER-positive breast cancer, PR-positive cancers, and HER2-positive cancers; in addition, receptor tyrosine kinases such as EGFR-positive tumors may be considered receptorpositive in some contexts.

Testing variability, pre-analytical factors, and intratumoral heterogeneity can influence results and interpretation. Because the term is descriptive rather than a distinct molecular category, researchers and clinicians usually specify the receptor when using receptorpositive.