STABILITY OF ESTROGEN RECEPTORS IN FROZEN HUMAN BREAST-TUMOR TISSUE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 1124-1125
Abstract
The effect of freezing on the stability of the estrogen receptors in human breast tumors was measured. Portions of 3 tumors kept frozen for 3 days after removal from the patients were analyzed by the sucrose density gradient method. The initial measurements demonsrated positive receptor values. The remaining portions were kept frozen for 30 days and the receptor values were reevaluated. The 8S receptor was 80% destroyed under these freezing conditions. The 4S receptor was more stable. The inactivation reflects a loss of specific binding since the protein concentration was similar in the analyses. Human breast tumor specimens should be analyzed as soon as possible or within 3 wk of freezing.