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The cytochemical demonstration of oestrogen receptors in human breast carcinomas
Author(s) -
Walker Rosemary A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711350308
Subject(s) - glutaraldehyde , receptor , periodate , horseradish peroxidase , chemistry , staining , breast cancer , frozen section procedure , carcinoma , pathology , medicine , biochemistry , cancer , enzyme , chromatography
A cytochemical method has been used to demonstrate oestrogen receptor in histological sections of breast carcinomas, and has given similar qualitative results to the biochemical dextran‐coated charcoal method. Two conjugation techniques were employed to couple horseradish peroxidase to 17β‐oestradiol‐6‐O‐carboxymethyloxime—bovine serum albumin. The periodate conjugation method led to a greater degree of coupling but a higher concentration was required for demonstration of oestrogen receptor than that needed when the two‐stage glutaraldehyde conjugation method was used, even though this resulted in a lesser degree of coupling. Care in the preparation of tissue has been found to be essential. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue was unsuitable; rapid freezing of fresh tissue, only brief air‐drying or acetone fixation of tissue sections and short‐term storage were important. A correlation has been shown between the presence of oestrogen receptor in breast carcinomas and good histological differentiation. The poorer differentiated tumours were also found to contain fewer reactive cells.