Estradiol binding by human breast carcinoma cytosols: The influence of commonly used reference parameters on the results

Abstract

The estradiol binding by human breast carcinoma cytosols was measured by saturation analysis and antiestrogen inhibition. The results were related to the weight of the tissue, the total protein content of the cytosol, the tissue protein content of the cytosol and the DNA content of the tissue. Taking estrogen binding/mg total protein estimated by saturation analysis as reference, the tumors were classified into estrogen receptor positive, estrogen receptor negative or borderline cases. Comparison with the estrogen binding related to the other tissue parameters or obtained by antiestrogen inhibition showed identical tumor classification in about 85% of cases. © 1978.