Use of monoclonal antibodies in immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptors in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer specimens from 45 patients were assayed for the presence of estrogen receptor (ER) utilizing highly specific monoclonal antiestrophilin antibodies and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Results were compared with the conventional ER determination of the dextran charcoal method (DCC) and were in concordance in 91% of cases. This technique was also used to analyze ER in fine needle aspiration biopsy specimen from four patients with metastatic ovarian tumor. These results suggest that antireceptor monoclonal antibody in immunohistochemical analysis is an effective tool in the evaluation of estrogen receptor content in ovarian cancer. This technique can be easily performed at community hospitals and may be extended to the evaluation of fine needle aspiration biopsies and to analyze specimens of insufficient size for biochemical assay.