title: Epidermal growth factor receptor determination on tumour imprints.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a sensitive prognostic indicator in women with breast cancer. A new technique for the detection of EGFR on breast cancer imprints is described and evaluated in relation to immunohistochemistry on frozen sections. The standard streptavidin-biotin method using the R1 antibody on frozen sections was modified for use on tumour imprints. In the first group (group 1 imprints) 43 tumours were assessed by frozen section and imprint staining. The group 1 imprint method had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 89% compared with the frozen sections. Further modifications were made for the following 32 tumours (group 2) and this method had a much improved sensitivity of 94% while specificity was preserved. This method is simple and could be performed in any hospital histopathology department.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hastrich
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Newcomb
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Farndon
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D019809:Streptavidin
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D019809:Streptavidin; D066246:ErbB Receptors