Comparison between immunocytochemical and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detection of oestrogen receptor and transforming growth factor beta in breast cancer.

摘要

The utility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a technique for determining the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and of the oestrogen receptor (ER) in clinical breast cancer tissue was examined. PCR analysis was compared with immunocytochemical assays for TGF-beta and for ER. Seventy confirmed breast carcinoma samples were analysed for ER using both techniques with a statistically highly significant concordance (P < 0.001) between the two methods. Nineteen samples were observed to be ER positive and 46 samples were found to be ER negative by both techniques. Forty-eight samples were analysed for TGF-beta using both PCR and immunocytochemistry. Of the 24 samples observed to be positive for TGF-beta by immunocytochemistry, all were found to be positive for TGF-beta mRNA (PCR). Similarly, the 24 samples observed to be TGF-beta negative by immunocytochemistry were also negative for TGF-beta mRNA, indicating 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity of the PCR technique. PCR is therefore considered a viable technique for analysis of both ER and TGF-beta in small samples such as fine-needle aspirates.