Prediction of endocrine response in breast cancer by immunocytochemical detection of oestrogen receptor in fine-needle aspirates
Coombes, R.C.; Powles, T.J.; Berger, U.; Wilson, P.; McClelland, R.A.; Gazet, J.C.; Trott, P.A.; Ford, H.T.
Lancet 2(8561): 701-703
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 2888939 Document Number: 296195
An immunocytochemical technique has been developed to detect the oestrogen receptor (ER) in samples obtained by fine-needle aspiration of primary or secondary breast carcinoma tissue. 45 (75%) of 60 samples contained sufficient cells for analysis. 19 (90%) of 21 patients who responded to endocrine therapy had samples with ER-positive cells compared with only 7 (39%) of 18 of those who did not respond (p<0.001). This test, which causes little pain to the patient and does not need a surgical biopsy, is as accurate as any method of predicting the response to endocrine treatment in breast cancer.