Histochemical  analyses of steroid hormone receptors in breast and prostatic carcinoma.
Histochemical analyses estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors in breast cancer were statistically correlated with results of dextran-coated charcoal (DDC) and sucrose gradient assays. Correlated for ER was 91% of 363 cases, and for PgR 88% of 255 specimens. Breast cancer ER/PgR positivity by histochemistry correlated with a favorable clinical response to endocrine therapies in 72% of 25 cases, while ER/PgR negativity correlated with a lack of response in 96% of 22 cases with Stage IV disease. Nuclear ER/PgR correlated with a poor response to therapy in 8 of 12 patients. An in vitro technique to detect nuclear translocation of ER revealed two groups of ER positive cases, with 11 of 17 exhibiting translocation and 6 not displaying translocation. In prostatic carcinoma, 72% of 65 men were positive for ER and/or androgen receptor. Comparison of specimens obtained without and with electrocautery revealed a preponderance of nuclear binding in the latter, suggesting heat-induced nuclear translocation of receptor. coumestrol, a naturally fluorescent, entirely unaltered estrogen was also used for histochemical detection of ER. Results correlated with ER by DCC in 87% of 61 breast cancers. Coumestrol was additionally used to visually observe receptor and nuclear translocation of ER in intact whole cells in culture.
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000032:analysis*; D003375:Coumestrol; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis*
D004967:Estrogens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011374:Progesterone; D003375:Coumestrol