Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41744886›Full record

ReviewCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2026

Estrogen Receptor-Low Positive (ER-Low) Breast Cancer: A Unique Clinical and Pathological Entity.

Gavino Faa, Eleonora Lai, Pina Ziranu, Andrea Pretta, Ekta Tiwari, Mariele Dessì, Cinzia Solinas, Giorgio Saba, Francesco Loi, Claudia Codipietro and 7 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Gavino FaaDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, AOU Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0189-8612
Eleonora LaiMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0275-8187
Pina ZiranuMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5659-7366
Andrea PrettaMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0262-9270
Ekta TiwariDepartment of Innovation, Global Biomedical Technologies, Inc., Roseville, CA 95661, USA.
Mariele DessìMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
Cinzia SolinasMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6782-8708
Giorgio SabaMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2356-4477
Francesco LoiMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0002-3699-2702
Claudia CodipietroMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
Simona GrazianoMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
Laura OttelioMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
Massimo DessenaS.S. Senologia Chirurgica, Chirurgia Polispecialistica, Policlinico Universitario di Monserrato, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0002-0785-6656
Ferdinando CogheClinical-Microbiological Laboratory, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
Jasjit S SuriStroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, Atheropoint™, Roseville, CA 95661, USA.
Luca SabaDepartment of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2870-3771
Mario ScartozziMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5977-5546

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

ER-low breast cancer (1-9% ER expression) represents a biologically and clinically distinct entity at the interface between ER-positive and ER-negative disease. Although traditionally managed as hormone receptor-positive, mounting evidence indicates that ER-low tumors share molecular signatures, aggressive behavior, and chemotherapeutic responsiveness with triple-negative breast cancer. Accurate ER assessment is hindered by methodological variability and interpretative challenges, leading to potential misclassification and suboptimal treatment choices. While the benefit of endocrine therapy remains uncertain, ER-low tumors consistently show sensitivity to chemotherapy and promising responses to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, paralleling outcomes observed in triple-negative breast cancer cohorts. Emerging artificial intelligence tools, including digital pathology and multimodal deep learning, may enhance ER quantification, reduce observer variability, and enable more precise patient stratification. This review synthesizes current pathological and clinical insights into ER-low breast cancer and highlights evolving therapeutic strategies, with a forward-looking perspective on AI-driven approaches to optimize personalized treatment for this challenging subtype.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsReceptors, EstrogenArtificial IntelligenceFemaleHumansReceptors, Estrogenartificial intelligencebreast cancerbreast cancer pathologychemo-immunotherapyendocrine treatmentestrogen receptor-low (ER-low) positive

Identifiers

PMID41744886
PMCPMC12939277

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.