[Quantitative determination with image analysis of immunohistochemically identified steroid hormone receptors in breast carcinoma].
Oestrogen receptors were demonstrated immunohistochemically in 120 breast cancer cases; in 90 cases, progesterone receptors were additionally assessed. Immunohistochemical staining was evaluated by the so-called "immuno-reactive score" and quantified densitometrically by a method of computer-assisted image analysis. The measuring method allowed an objective evaluation of the portion of receptor-positive cells, the mean optical density and the distribution pattern of receptor concentrations within receptor-positive nuclei. Image analysis was compared with the semiquantitative evaluation by IRS. In 29 out of 58 weakly stained sections, which were scored as receptor-negative, receptor-positive cells could be demonstrated by image analysis because of the definition of an objective cut-off level for specific staining. Furthermore, three different patterns of distribution of receptor concentration could be distinguished: Type 0: receptor-negative carcinomas Type 1: homogeneous receptor expression within receptor-positive cells Type 2: heterogeneous receptor expression with high receptor concentrations in single cells. Type 2 patterns were almost exclusively found in postmenopausal patients, a dependence of expression pattern from grading was not demonstrated. These distribution patterns were found in the same manner in the expression analysis of progesterone receptor. With immunohistochemical staining only 45% of ER-negative carcinomas expressed PR, but 74% of ER-positive carcinomas. When ER was expressed heterogeneously (Type 2) PR was expressed in the same way in 62% of the cases. Beneath the exact determination of the portion of receptor-positive cells the analysis of the pattern of distribution is only possible by image analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mink
D
D
Universitäts-Frauenklinik und Poliklinik mit Hebammenlehranstalt, Homburg/Saar.
Uhrmacher
S
S
Heiss
C
C
Villena-Heinsen
C
C
Schmidt
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000473:pathology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone