Immunohistochemical estrogen receptor determination in human breast carcinoma: correlation with histologic differentiation and age of the patients.
An immunohistochemical assay for the measurement of estrogen receptor (ER) has been evaluated on 290 consecutive human breast biopsy and mastectomy specimens in the year 1992 at The Aga Khan University Hospital laboratories. Immunohistochemical localization of estrogen receptor on frozen/paraffin section was scored in a semi-quantitative fashion incorporating both the intensity and the distribution of specific staining. Histologic grading of the tumour was performed according to Bloom's method. In this study, 21% of the tumours were estrogen receptor negative, 15% were weak positive, 25% intermediate positive and 39% strong positive. Fifty percent of the well differentiated tumours showed strong ER positivity against 27% of the poorly differentiated tumours. Seventy eight percent of all negative estrogen receptors were in patients younger than 50 years of age (pre-menopausal group), while 52% of strong estrogen receptor positivity was observed in patients older than 50 years (post- menopausal). This study demonstrates the value of immunohistochemical method to determine the ER status in patients with advanced breast cancer.
Pervez
S
S
Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Shaikh
H
H
Aijaz
F
F
Aziz
S A
SA
Naqvi
M
M
Hasan
S H
SH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen