Tamoxifen-induced fluorescence as a marker of human breast tumor cell responsiveness to hormonal manipulations: correlation with progesterone receptor content and ultrastructural alterations.

The fluorescent binding of tamoxifen to eosin is used on Papanicolaou-stained smears as a marker of cell responsiveness to the antiestrogen molecule. Forty-two cases of human breast carcinomas were submitted to tamoxifen treatment between first diagnosis and surgery (4 to 30 days). Tamoxifen-induced fluorescence is observed in 17 of 42 cases (40%). There is a highly significant correlation between progesterone receptor content of the tumor and cellular fluorescence (0.01 greater than p greater than 0.001). Ultrastructural changes of such tumors (820 cells observed in 28 treated patients and 840 cells in 32 untreated controls) are observed in 42% of treated cells versus 10% of untreated cells. These ultrastructural alterations can be significantly correlated with cellular fluorescence induced by tamoxifen treatment and with progesterone receptor content of human breast cancers. These data suggest that a short pretreatment with tamoxifen before surgery can give useful additional information at the biochemical, cytochemical, and ultrastructural levels regarding cell responsiveness to hormonal manipulation.

[1]  A. Buzdar,et al.  Estrogen receptor: A prognostic factor in breast cancer , 1981, Cancer.

[2]  V. Jordan,et al.  Effect of non-steroidal anti-oestrogens on the concentration of rat uterine progesterone receptors. , 1978, The Journal of endocrinology.

[3]  B. Trump,et al.  Studies of mouse liver necrosis in vitro. Ultrastructural and cytochemical alterations in hepatic parenchymal cell nuclei. , 1965, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[4]  Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt,et al.  August , 1890, The Hospital.

[5]  T. Kute,et al.  Relationship of steroid receptor, cell kinetics, and clinical status in patients with breast cancer. , 1981, Cancer research.

[6]  G. Barrows,et al.  Nuclear uptake of a 17 beta-estradiol-fluorescein derivative as a marker of estrogen dependence. , 1980, American journal of clinical pathology.

[7]  S. Lee.  Cellular estrogen and progesterone receptors in mammary carcinoma. , 1980, American journal of clinical pathology.

[8]  C. Meyers,et al.  Investigation of hormone-receptor interactions by means of fluorescence labeling. , 1978, Cancer research.

[9]  B. Fisher,et al.  Fluoresceinated estrone binding by human and mouse breast cancer cells. , 1982, Cancer research.

[10]  R. Blamey,et al.  QUANTITATIVE OESTRADIOL RECEPTOR VALUES IN PRIMARY BREAST CANCER AND RESPONSE OF METASTASES TO ENDOCRINE THERAPY , 1981, The Lancet.

[11]  I. Nenci,et al.  Estrogen receptor cytochemistry by fluorescent estrogen. , 1980, The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society.

[12]  A. C. Carter,et al.  Histochemistry of steroid receptors in breast cancer: an overview. , 1979, Annals of clinical and laboratory science.

[13]  W. McGuire,et al.  Questions about histochemical methods for steroid receptors. , 1982, Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine.

[14]  Thomas M. Wheeler,et al.  Lack of correlation of a histochemical method for estrogen receptor analysis with the biochemical assay results , 1982, Cancer.

[15]  J Mouriquand,et al.  Differential nucleolar staining affinity with a modified Papanicolaou staining procedure. , 1981, Stain technology.

[16]  J. Pasteels,et al.  Cytochemical analysis of human breast cancer with fluorescent sex-steroid conjugates. Comparison with biochemical assessment of oestrogen receptors. , 1981, Anticancer research.

[17]  B. Trump,et al.  Studies of necrosis in vitro of mouse hepatic parenchymal cells. Ultrastructural and cytochemical alterations of cytosomes, cytosegresomes, multivesicular bodies, and microbodies and their relation to the lysosome concept. , 1965, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[18]  S. Saez,et al.  Estradiol and progesterone receptor levels in human breast adenocarcinoma in relation to plasma estrogen and progesterone levels. , 1978, Cancer research.

[19]  K. Cowan,et al.  Steroid receptors in breast cancer. , 1982, Archives of internal medicine.

[20]  W. McGuire.  Steroid Hormone Receptors and Disease: Breast Cancer , 1979, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[21]  G. Penney,et al.  Two steps forward on environmental justice. , 1994, Environmental health perspectives.

[22]  W. McGuire,et al.  Estrogen control of progesterone receptor in human breast cancer: role of estradiol and antiestrogen. , 1978, Endocrinology.

[23]  H. Imura,et al.  Effects of tamoxifen on estrogen and progesterone receptors in human breast cancer. , 1981, Cancer research.

[24]  B. Trump,et al.  Studies of necrosis in vitro of mouse hepatic parenchymal cells. Ultrastructural alterations in endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, and lipid droplets. , 1965, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology.

[25]  M. Namer,et al.  Increase of progesterone receptor by tamoxifen as a hormonal challenge test in breast cancer. , 1980, Cancer research.

[26]  J. Howanitz.  Hormone receptors and breast cancer. , 1981, Human pathology.

[27]  J. Meyer,et al.  Low incidence of estrogen receptor in breast carcinomas with rapid rates of cellular replication , 1977, Cancer.

[28]  T. Martin,et al.  Biochemical assessment of histochemical methods for oestrogen receptor localisation. , 1982, Journal of clinical pathology.