Alverno Clinical Laboratories, LLC is pleased to announce a new laboratory service agreement with CIGNA HealthCare!

Effective August 1, 2010 CIGNA providers and members in Illinois and Indiana will have access to the full test menu of laboratory services provided by Alverno Clinical Laboratories.

Alverno is dedicated to providing high quality, cost effective testing with a focus on service.

Alverno offers an extensive network of conveniently located Patient Service Centers. Our Patient Service Centers are staffed by skilled phlebotomists and offer wait times of less than 15 minutes.

If you would like additional information about the services we offer or to locate a Patient Service Center please call Client Services at 800-937-5521.

Elisabeth Shearon, M.D. is certified by the American Board of Pathology, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, with Subspecialty Fellowship Training in Breast Pathology from the Lynn Sage Breast Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Breast Cancer Receptors

Receptors are molecules on the surfaces of cells which receive messages from their surroundings. There are many receptors on the surfaces of breast cancer cells. Some of these receptors receive signals which stimulate or "turn on" cell growth. Therefore, by switching off or blocking these receptors, growth of the cancer may slow or stop.

Once breast cancer is diagnosed, a receptor assay will be performed by the Pathologist to determine if certain receptors are present on the breast cancer cells. There are three types of receptors currently measured on breast cancer cells. Two of these receptors are for the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can increase both normal and abnormal cell growth. A cancer is called "ER-positive" if it has receptors for the hormone estrogen, and "PR-positive" if it has receptors for the hormone progesterone. If a tumor is ER-positive, it is more likely to grow in a high-estrogen environment.

Breast cancers that are either ER-positive, PR-positive, or both, tend to respond well to hormone therapy. An ER-positive cancer may respond well to tamoxifen (Nolvadex), a drug that works by blocking the estrogen receptors on breast cancer cells and slowing their estrogen-dependent growth.

The third receptor measured on breast cancer cells is for human epidermal growth factor-2, also known as HER2. Breast cancers that are "HER2-positive" tend to respond well to trastuzumab (Herceptin) therapy. Herceptin is a drug that blocks the binding of HER2 to its receptor.

Receptor status is an important part of the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Elisabeth C. Shearon, M.D.

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