Oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) status are widely used to select patients for adjuvant hormonal therapy (Allred et al, 1998; EBCTCG, 1998; Harvey et al, 1999) and may predict response to cytotoxic chemotherapy in metastatic disease (Kiang et al, 1978; Lippman et al, 1978; Lippman and Allegra, 1980), but their role in predicting response to primary chemotherapy remains controversial. The gene discussed is PGR; the disease is metastatic neoplasm.