[Immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies (H222 SP gamma) of estrogen receptors: correlation with biochemical analysis (by radioligand) of 115 breast carcinomas].

Breast cancer specimens from 115 patients were assayed for the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) using a monoclonal antibody (H222 SP gamma) and an immuno-histochemical method ER-ICA. The specific ER immuno-staining was observed in cell nuclei. The intensity of the immuno-staining level (ISL) and the percentage of positive cells (PC) variable within tumors tissue, were graded (from 0 to 3): intensity level (IL) and percentage of positive cells (PC). (IL + PC) were correlated to biochemical ER assay using radiolabeled ligands ER - RLA. Both ER - ICA and ER - RLA were correlated in 87.9% of the cases. Discrepancies between both assays appeared mainly due to heterogeneity of the tissue samples. From this study it is concluded that ER - ICA is a reliable histochemical method since well correlated with biochemical assay, easily and rapidly performable, and constitutes a new approach method for ER detection in tissue, particularly valuable in minimal breast cancer, and precancerous lesions.