title: A comparative study of cytologic smears and frozen-tissue sections in the determination of sex steroid receptor status of breast carcinomas.
abstract: The estrogen receptor (ER) status of breast cancer is important as an indicator of prognosis and in the selection of patients for endocrine therapy. Biochemical techniques (estrogen receptor analysis [ERA]) are conventionally used to determine ER; however, they have limitations and disadvantages. In this study a monoclonal antibody to ER (estrogen receptor-immunochemical assay [ERICA]) was used to detect the presence of ER on cytologic and frozen tissue specimens of breast cancers and was compared with the dextran-coated charcoal assay. One hundred two breast cancers were studied. Ninety-four specimens were studied by ERA and ERICA; in eight patients in whom tissue was insufficient for ERA, ERICA alone was performed. ERICA correlated remarkably well with ERA: 94% sensitivity, 89% specificity, and 93% accuracy. In the eight patients in whom ERA could not be performed, ERICA was successfully applied to obtain information regarding receptor status. There was uniform agreement between frozen-sectioned tissues and cytologic smears. The results suggest that immunocytochemical determination of ER is a valuable adjunct and/or alternative to the biochemical method for determination of the ER status of breast cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen