Detection of estrogen receptor in bone marrow from patients with metastatic breast cancer.
We devised a method of detecting estrogen receptors (ER) in bone marrow metastases from patients with breast cancer. The method involves a sequential double-staining immunocytochemical technique, with a monoclonal antibody to ER and a polyclonal antibody recognizing epithelial membrane antigen to confirm the epithelial nature of suspected tumor cells. Twenty-seven patients were assessed: ten were found to have ER-positive tumor cells in the bone marrow; ten had ER-negative cells; and the remaining seven patients had no tumor cells in the bone marrow smears. Of the ten patients with ER-positive cells, eight (80%) either had a response to endocrine therapy, implying that they possess ER-positive breast cancers, or had ER-positive primary tumors as determined by the dextran-coated charcoal biochemical assay (DCC). Of the ten patients with ER-negative cells in the bone marrow, eight failed to respond to endocrine therapy. This technique therefore provides a means of predicting which patients will respond to endocrine therapy, and is particularly important in those patients whose ER status is unknown.
Berger
U
U
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, St George's Hospital Medical School, UK.
Mansi
J L
JL
Wilson
P
P
Coombes
R C
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000032:analysis*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D002606:Charcoal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D002606:Charcoal