Clinical usefulness of estrogen receptor immunocytochemistry in human breast cancer

• Published in: Tumori Vol. 78; no. 5; p. 287
• Main Authors: Querzoli, P, Ferretti, S, Marzola, A, Tassinari, D, Indelli, M, Marchetti, E, Fabris, G, Nenci, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 31.10.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms - ultrastructure; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0300-8916; 2038-2529
• DOI: 10.1177/030089169207800501

We assessed the reliability of the immunocytochemical assay of estrogen receptor (ER-ICA) as a marker of clinical outcome. Relapse-free interval (RFI) and overall survival (OS) according to ER-ICA status were retrospectively evaluated on a series of 210 patients who had undergone surgery for primary breast cancer between January 1985 and December 1988. ER assay by the dextran-coated charcoal method (DCC) was also performed in 189 tumors. A significant positive correlation was found between the DCC and ER-ICA assays, with an overall agreement of 79%. ER-ICA status showed a prognostic predictive power with respect to OS and RFI in the whole series of patients and in the subset of node-positive patients. It was also a marker of outcome with respect to OS in the subsets of node-negative patients and patients with tumors < or = 2 cm in diameter. Moreover, the predictive value of the ER-ICA assay was higher than that of the DCC assay in the present study. These findings emphasize the clinical usefulness of the ER-ICA assay as a measure for prognosis.