Sensitive detection of estrogen receptor RNA by polymerase chain reaction assay.
We developed a simplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique sensitive enough to detect estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA in breast tumor specimens from 1 microgram of total RNA. We simultaneously amplified a control gene such as beta-actin as a baseline to semiquantitate ER expression. In a preliminary test of this method on a small series of breast tumors, ER message was found as expected in a number of tumors found to be ER positive by ligand binding assay, but also ER negative in one tumor assayed. The ER in this last tumor contained a single base change in the hormone binding region, compared with the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line ER. Therefore, this PCR technique may be useful in the detection and cloning of rare ER transcripts from breast tumor biopsy specimens.
Fuqua
S A
SA
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7884.
Falette
N F
NF
McGuire
W L
WL
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*
D000199:Actins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen