Open AccessDetermination of ploidy and steroid receptor status in breast cancer by laser scanning cytometry
Author(s) -
Bollmann Reinhard,
Torka Robert,
Schmitz Jörg,
Bollmann Magdolna,
Méhes Gábor
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.10093
Subject(s) - cytometry , flow cytometry , estrogen receptor , breast cancer , biology , receptor , population , microbiology and biotechnology , progesterone receptor , cancer , cancer research , pathology , medicine , biochemistry , genetics , environmental health
Background: Measurements on DNA content and steroid receptor status in breast cancer are of great clinical interest. Objective determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression should help to define the lowest levels of positivity still responding to adjuvant antihormonal therapy. For this purpose, a simple protocol for laser scanning cytometry is presented. Methods: Analysis of 54 routine breast cancer samples was performed by laser scanning cytometry (LSC). To obtain single cell preparations from fresh tumor tissue, slides were prepared using the Cervisoft cytological device. Exact determination of tumor cell DNA content was done by referring to the CD45‐positive tissue leukocyte fraction as the internal diploid reference cell population. Steroid receptor‐expressing cells were detected by indirect immunolabeling. Results: Indirect immunofluorescence allowed the best quantification of both the estrogen and progesterone receptor‐expressing cell fractions by LSC. The number of receptor‐expressing cells could be given in percentage. For comparison, the 10% cutoff value was used to determine receptor positivity. Conclusion: LSC enabled a simple, reliable, and inexpensive determination of DNA index and steroid receptor expression in breast cancer specimens by objective criteria. Cytometry (Clin. Cytometry) 50:210–215, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.