Heterogeneous estrogen receptor levels detected via multiple microsamples from individual breast cancers.

Author(s): van Netten JP, Algard FT, Coy P, Carlyle SJ, Brigden ML, Thornton KR, Peter S, Fraser T, To MP

Publication: Cancer, 1985, Vol. 56, Page 2019-24

PubMed ID: 2992754 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of microsampling on the levels of estrogen receptor in breast tumors determined by a radioactive electrophoresis assay. Four 1.5 x 1.5 x 13 mm strips were taken from widely separated regions of each of 26 breast tumors. Half of each strip was fixed and analyzed by H&E staining. The other half was used for the radioactive electrophoresis assay. ER levels were classified as negative when there was no ER present, low to moderate when 1-100 fmol/mg ER was present and high when more than 100 fmol/mg ER was present.

   Summary of Findings:

   The percentage tumor cells varied widely between the 4 microsamples obtained from a single tumor. In 12 of the 26 cases, at least one microsample lacked tumor cells, but the other 16 cases had some tumor cells (5-50%) in all 4 microsamples. The percentage of tumor cells was lowest in specimens from patients less than 50 years old, but there was no difference in tumor content between specimens obtained from patients 50-65 years old and more than 65 years old. When all cases were considered there was little correlation between ER content and the percentage of tumor cells within the microsample (r=0.17), but, when the tumor was obtained from patients less than 50 years old, or more than 65 years old, there was a correlation between ER levels and tumor content (r=0.62, and r=0.44, respectively). In specimens for which there was sufficient remaining tumor to analyze after microsampling, 13 had complete agreement between the average ER level in the 4 microsamples and the remainder of the tumor, and 10 were off by one category. Correction of the ER levels to reflect the percentage of tumor cells within the microsample revealed that 13 cases had similar levels of ER per tumor cell in each microsample, but 9 cases had different levels of ER per tumor cell in the different microsamples. The average coefficient of variance for intratumor ER levels was 86%.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Breast

   Preservative Types

   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Neoplastic - Carcinoma

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Protein	Radioassay
   Morphology	H-and-E microscopy

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Aliquots and Components	Biospecimen heterogeneity	Entire tumor examined Intratumoral sampling (exact positions not specified)
   Radioassay Specific	Targeted peptide/protein	ER
   Preaquisition	Patient age	Less than 50 years 50-65 years More than 65 years

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